GreenPak also noted that people should be more considerate about sorting their waste appropriately in order to use their recently installed smart-technology-run iBiNs to their fullest potential.

“The iBiNs send fill levels notice to GreenPak and collections are scheduled according to these readings. It is frustrating that while iBiNs are reporting available void, some individuals cannot be bothered to place the materials inside the bin,” said GreenPak’s CEO, Mario Schembri. “Flattening carton boxes and crushing plastic bottles is the proper way to deposit materials inside the iBiNs. Dumping of recyclable waste next to the bins is a littering offence,” he added.

“We are striving to empty the iBiNs more often in the many localities served by GreenPak. Nevertheless, the biggest problem is the total disregard by the authorities to enforce fines on those that ignore the law,” the GreenPak CEO noted.

GreenPak advised the government a few months ago to focus more on enforcement, such as instigating what GreenPak calls as “Rubbish Police”. GreenPak says the proposal was discussed with the Ministry for the Environment (MSDEC), as well as authorised recycling schemes so that stakeholders would work together to come up with a solution for littering that GreenPak tags as “national disease”.

“From our side, we increased the frequency for emptying the bins and have also started emptying of iBiNs at night, so as to avoid traffic congestions. But enforcement is still an unrelenting major problem. Although GreenPak has been sending images and footage of abusive actions to both ERA [Environment and Resources Authority] and LESA [Local Enforcement System Agency] to take action against the abusers, no decrease in littering has been noticed — if anything, littering is on the increase at an alarming rate,” Mr Schembri says.

GreenPak is prepared to install CCTVs at all iBiN sites, however, due to its experiences with law enforcement, the company says it is doubtful about the future effectiveness of such measures. “Law enforcement is a basic and fundamental government function. The lack of enforcement is severely undermining our investment and our work,” Mr Schembri underscores.

GreenPak recently installed smart technology-equipped iBiNs in 42 localities the collector serves, which was also accompanied by the launch of an online application that helps citizens locate the bins. Later on GreenPak said that their new iBiNs have helped increase the recovery of plastic waste. As recent figures show that between January and May 2019 plastic waste recovery nearly doubled when compared to the same period in 2018.

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GreenPak replaced traditional recycling skips with smart technology-equipped iBiNs in 42 localities the collector serves, earlier this year. The installation was also accompanied by the launch of an online application that helps citizens locate the bins.

“As the figures amply show, iBiNs are positively impacting on recycling in both Malta and Gozo as they are making it easier and more efficient for people to recycle, anytime, anywhere,” said Mario Schembri, GreenPak’s CEO.

During the first five months of this year, over 253,000 kg of plastics were recovered, equivalent to 3,162,500 plastic bottles, according to the press release.

Between January and May 2019, GreenPak also registered an increase of 39% in recovered paper and glass materials when compared to the same five-month period in 2018.

“For us at GreenPak, world environment day is practically every day — 365 days a year. Recycling serves to protect and improve the environment which today is globally recognised as being seriously threatened through, among others, the depletion of its raw materials,” commented Mr Schembri.

“Our day-to-day work and operations serve as a tangible platform for public outreach across Malta and Gozo. Using our latest technological system, today we know that in 2019 there has not been a single day when citizens did not use GreenPak’s iBiNs to recycle,” Mr Schembri added.

The intelligent bins are able to measure their fill-level and transmit the information to a central system using Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) technology, delivered to the island nation by Vodafone Malta, which the service provider says is the first such ecosystem in Malta.

Following last month’s official launch of the iBiNs link, in collaboration with Vodafone, more significant results are expected in the coming months, as the press release says, as this link via mobile phone will be directing the person to the nearest empty iBiN, meaning more efficient use of time and less driving trying to locate an empty bin.

The web app is available on the official website of GreenPak; no download is necessary. Furthermore, it is screen-responsive, which means that it works on any device such as smartphones, tablets, portable computers and others.

Editorial Note: The present article was updated with additional information about the IoT technology delivered by Vodafone Malta.

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Smart recycling iBiNs have gained quick public acceptance in Malta with a notable increase in the collection of recyclable paper, glass, metal and plastics and reduction of traffic emissions after the test run launched in January 2019, Mario Schembri, CEO of GreenPak, announced yesterday in the company of Kenneth Spiteri, Vodafone Malta’s Director of Enterprise and Member of the European Parliament Miriam Dalli.

“On selecting the colour-coded image of the iBiN, the app informs you whether an iBiN has free space for your recyclables. If the bin is full, the app guides you to the nearest available iBiN via a Google Map interface. User feedback from the trial period has been positive and we believe that people will be finding it extremely user-friendly and very useful,” said Mr Schembri.

The web app is available on the official website of GreenPak; no download is necessary. Furthermore, it is screen-responsive, which means that it works on any device such as smartphones, tablets, portable computers and others. Since early January, a group of 300 people throughout the islands have tried and tested the application, according to the press release.

“We are delighted to be able to help take the iBiNs initiative to the next level by supporting the web app; a simple and straightforward tool that pinpoints the nearest available empty bin and empowers citizens to be more environmentally responsible. Helping protect Malta’s environment is one of our three strategic pillars and we are therefore committed to using our next generation technology to help redefine the way waste is managed,” said Kenneth Spiteri.

Reducing emissions

The recently-installed system of iBiNs across Malta and Gozo have doubled the amount of plastic waste collected, while it has reduced the number of trips by collection trucks by 23%. Concurrently, this has lead to the reduction of gas emissions.

“Another advantage of this app is that it will be diminishing vehicular emissions as it serves to avoid unnecessary traffic movements on the roads,” said Mr Schembri. “Collection trucks are focussing only on those bins that need to be emptied, while responsible and environment-friendly citizens will be going directly to the nearest iBiNs. These results contribute to better traffic flows on the roads as unnecessary trips are avoided, bringing about another positive change in our communities,” he added.

During her term as an MEP, Ms Dalli has urged the European Union and its member states to promote alternatives to the usage of plastic, and further called for the incentivisation of upcycling — the process of transforming by-products into new materials in an environmentally conscious manner.

“The innovation and use of technology, such as the app being launched today, are important to increase environmental awareness and facilitate the public’s options for more sustainable choices. At European Parliament, we have worked on a number of laws to better manage waste in order to reduce it and recycle more. The next step is to implement these laws. In this manner, we can upgrade to the next level to leave a better environment for our children and future generations,” said Ms Dalli.

The project has been supported through the Business Enhance ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Grant Schemes Initiative, and part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under Operational Programme I 2014-2020 entitled Fostering a competitive and sustainable economy to meet our challenges.

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