Learning New Ways of Recycling Together!
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How to use your BCRS Establishment Card at Public Recycling Hubs -
Journey of a beverage container from Purchase to Deposit at a Reverse Vending Machine -
DRS Manager answers Frequently Asked Questions about the Scheme -
BCRS Head of Administration answers Frequently Asked Questions about BCRS Reverse Vending Machines -
BCRS Head of Operations answers Frequently Asked Questions about the BCRS Clearing Centre -
The Beverage Container Refund Scheme Explained
Can I recycle this beverage container at a Reverse Vending Machine?
What Beverages form part of the Scheme?
Water and flavoured water
Non-Carbonated Soft Drinks
Carbonated soft drinks
Ciders, beers and other malt beverages
Ready to drink coffee
Flavoured alcoholic beverages having an alcoholic content level which does not exceed 5%
Dilutables
What Beverage Container Materials are part of the Scheme?
Plastic
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Metal
Steel and Aluminium
Glass
Clear and non-clear glass
The Beverage Container Circular Economy System
€0.10
Deposit Scheme
How the Deposit Refund System works
The Beverage Container Refund Scheme incentivises the return of single-use beverage containers by applying a refundable deposit on the sale of beverages.
A small deposit of €0.10 is added to the purchase price of the beverage where the market cycle commences at beverage producer or importer stage. This deposit is paid into a deposit account managed by BCRS Malta. The deposit is then charged to retailers at the wholesale stage who subsequently transfer it onto the consumer.
Consumers can recoup their deposits by returning the empty beverage container to an approved redemption location which can either be a retailer or a Reverse Vending Machine. A full refund of the deposit shall be returned to consumers immediately upon return of the beverage container, effectively being paid out by BCRS Malta through the deposit account.
Thus, this circular system entices returns of single-use beverage containers through the incentive of a refundable deposit. At the same time, the beverage containers are gathered at redemption locations, and are then transported to BCRS Malta’s clearing centre for sorting and onward sale as recyclable materials.
