In a country where there always has to be some controversy there is a raging debate on the introduction of new milk cartons, with plastic caps, by Benna.

As usual, extreme arguments are being made by those who have drawn battle lines, with only a few choosing to take the middle ground.

One faction has welcomed the rebranded packaging, arguing that it keeps milk fresher and that it has rendered milk cartons transportable. It has now become much easier to take a carton of milk, particularly the flavoured kinds, to your kid's picnic in Ta' Qali.

Some have seen red and said the new plastic caps will add to the pollution problem. The fact that the rebranding came at a time when Malta was hosting a major international conference that highlighted the environmental damage caused by plastics in the ocean did not help much.

Some people feel so strongly about the issue that they even held a protest in St Andrew's yesterday afternoon. The more cynical among us pointed out that transporting the plastic caps to the Luxol grounds will result in added car emissions - another form of pollution.

But many seem to be missing the point that plastics end up in our countryside and in our oceans not because they are sold in supermarkets but because the people who consume those products do not dispose of them properly. There is a saying that 'guns don't' kill, people do.' Well likewise, plastic caps don't throw themselves in the ocean, we do.

In an ideal world plastics can be recycled and reused countless times. But is it a known fact that many among us have not yet changed their attitude towards recycling and simply chuck everything in the black bag.

Malta lags far behind when it comes to solid waste recycling, and we have to admit that part of the blame lies with us consumers. Data covering the period 2011 to 2015 seems to show that less plastic was being recycled.

Granted, our system is far from perfect, and the recent fire at the Sant' Antnin recycling plant has complicated the matter, but if you go to the national park in Ta' Qali on a Monday morning, or to a beach after the weekend, one can easily see why much of or plastic is not reaching the recycling streams.

Like with everything else we need to realise that we are part of the problem and also part of the solution. We must put everything into perspective and not go overboard.

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Well done police

We have been critical of the police force on many occasions, mainly on matters involving politicians, and the apparent lack of apetite for investigation, let alone prosecution.

Most of our criticism was aimed at the force's top brass, the people who are politically appointed. We have always had words of praise for the 'proper' police officers - those risking their necks, always in the thick of it, on the ground.

Yesterday was an exceptional day for these men and women. In the space of a few hours officers apprehended two dangerous suspects and made the biggest ever drugs find.

These men and women deserve our praise, and our thanks.