GreenPak CEO Mario Schembri has said that almost €30 million are spent every year on waste management between the private sector and Government, and this amount does not include Government's expenditure related to administration, policies and law enforcement.

"Unfortunately, we see litter everywhere. This immediately leads to the question: what are we doing wrong?" Schembri said.

The GreenPak Coop Society is asking consumers to crush empty plastic bottles for recycling. Designed to reduce plastic pollution, optimise space in recycling bags and bins, and increase collection rates of plastic bottles, the "Crush Plastic Bottles" campaign focuses on the need to dispose plastic bottles properly. "Crushing plastic bottles for recycling brings awareness on the need to stop littering and increase resource use."

Maltese personalities are supporting the campaign and have helped produce the "Crush" video by singing the 1990s hit 'Crush' by Jennifer Paige. The campaign is supported by many leading companies including GSD Marketing Ltd, bottlers of Coca-Cola products. GSD Marketing Ltd together with GreenPak are leading a campaign on sustainable use of plastic bottles and targeting consumers at beaches to stop littering. The campaign will also feature on radio and TV to encourage a widespread effort to crush and recycle plastic bottles. 

GreenPak has embarked on numerous education campaigns highlighting the need for law enforcement on littering and the proper use of recycling bring-in-sites bins. The cooperative's CEO Ing Mario Schembri said that although a lot of effort and improvements are being made to safeguard the environment, littering in public places has not abated.

GreenPak has installed a number of CCTV cameras over bring-in-sites bins at hot spot locations and works incessantly with Local Councils to stop the litter abuses that occur daily.

"We are hopeful that the "Crush plastic bottle" campaign serves to reduce plastic littering in Malta and encourage the public to take positive action and reduce waste sent to landfills," added Schembri.