Bank of Valletta was an active participant in the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR), an initiative run across Europe, in a bid to raise awareness about waste reduction, recycling and the promotion of behavioural change in the way waste is disposed of.

The European Week for Waste Reduction took place between the 16th and the 24th November. Bank of Valletta gave its 1,600 people the opportunity to get rid of any unwanted or unusable electronic and electric waste, also known as WEEE – Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment. BOV employees were able to bring their unwanted stuff to a central location to be disposed of responsibly and safely.

This kind of waste, which can potentially be very harmful if disposed of irresponsibly, is fully recyclable. Unfortunately, it is often discarded alongside other household waste due to its small size.

BOV thought of giving staff the opportunity to collect this potentially-harmful equipment on their behalf and dispose of it in a responsible manner. It is estimated that about 120 items were brought over for recycling, for a total weight of 620 kilograms. Some of the disposed goods will be dismantled and their components, which usually consist of metals, plastics and other material will be recovered through the recycling process to be utilised in the manufacturing of new products.

Mark Marmara, BOV’s Environmental Manager coordinated this Bank-wide initiative. “The smallest difference in our daily behaviour can make a great difference for the environment. By changing our behaviour, we will not only be leaving the environment in better shape but also giving our children a better chance at behaving responsibly. There is no easy formula to developing an environmentally-conscious culture, but we feel that by nurturing awareness about our footprint among our people, we will be making a small step in favour of our green stakeholder. “