Corporate Social Responsibility

Internal environmental measures

As part of the company’s social responsibility, a green leader has been assigned to make sure all the necessary efforts are being made on behalf of the company to ensure we practice what we preach.

The reduction and management of waste

• The recycling bins were revamped and a list of items that can and cannot be thrown inside the respective bins was put up next to the bins.  Such bins are located in every kitchenette for easy access.  A reused cardboard box was put in every office to be used as a paper bin, to avoid office paper waste from going into the black bag.
• The organic fraction of the waste generated in the offices and during lunch breaks was diverted from the black bag and a new organic bag was introduced for this purpose.  A one-hour training seminar was provided to employees in administrative departments to introduce them to the organic bag and together, revise some recycling concepts.
• The reduction of plastic cups consumed through the coffee machine is also an initiative which has been adopted in the offices.  Employees are encouraged to use their own mugs (whenever possible) instead of plastic cups which are automatically supplied by the machine.
• The reuse of single sided printed sheets for rough paper was encouraged – notebooks were made out of these sheets and were distributed to employees.
• Office employees were encouraged to minimise printing whenever possible and use soft copies instead.

Energy consumption

• Light sensors have been installed in kitchens and bathrooms.  This will ensure lights will not be left uselessly switched on for a long time.

Green public Procurement

Green Public Procurement (GPP) is an instrument designed specifically to promote environmentally-positive procurement practices, since it represents an efficient use of public finances and promotes environmental improvement.

As a major stakeholder in the management of waste in Malta and a provider of an environmental service itself, it is important for Wasteserv to ensure that the procured waste collection, transport and other related services be delivered in an environmentally friendly manner.

In order to ensure sustainable management of waste streams, Wasteserv routinely procures specialised waste transport and management services.  Consequently the GPP criteria have been incorporated into the tenders issued by Wasteserv for the procurement of such waste collection services.  The said criteria are based on the EU’s GPP criteria for all product groups and services.

By implementing GPP criteria in its tenders, Wasteserv has learned that the market can be influenced in a positive way and the procurement actions have been considered successful, bearing in mind that the tendering processes have involved criteria, which had not been used in previous tenders.

The implementation of this process resulted in the following impacts:

• Reduced emissions caused by transport;
• Improved recycling of hazardous waste streams;
• A reduction in the quantity of waste sent to landfill.

Hence introducing this practice has resulted in providing a cleaner and more environmentally-friendly service for the benefit of Wasteserv’s clients and the country as a whole.