Environment Minister Miriam Dalli told Parliament on Monday that across last year, more than 85% of all eligible containers were retrieved by BCRS machines, with an equivalent number of vouchers issued.

Minister Dalli stated that in 2025, there were approximately 283 million containers placed on the market that could be accepted by the Beverage Container Refund Scheme (BCRS) scheme. From this total, an estimated collection rate of 85% was recorded, which amounts to 240.55 million beverage containers.

The BCRS voucher reimbursement exceeded 98%, Minister Dalli added. This amounts to around €27.7 million in reimbursements throughout 2025.

She stated that BCRS machines only record the number of reject attempts, “because a single container can be tried several times, or rejected in one machine and then accepted in another.”

“The collection and reimbursement rates show that the scheme is working efficiently and we are committed to continue improving it,” Minister Dalli said on this data.

The Minister for the Environment thanked the general public for its continued collaboration in these recycling efforts. She said that this collaboration encourages government to continue making full use of the deposit system, including the special service provided to elderly and vulnerable persons by the Cleansing and Maintenance Division.

In 2024, BCRS Malta collected 236 million beverage containers at a collection rate of 84%.

This information was shared following a parliamentary question asked by PN MP Ian Vassallo.