GreenPak will be launching a new service early next year - the Door-2-Door bag collection scheme.

Colour-coded bags for the separate disposal of packaging waste will be distributed to every household and the bags collected on specific days. Since the packaging does not decay, weekly or fortnightly collections would be possible, Greenpak said.

It is holding talks with a number of local councils over the scheme.

Meanwhile, GreenPak reminded companies that they are obliged to recover their packaging waste under the EU Packaging Directive. These obligations are now also reflected in Maltese law.

The best way for importers and manufacturers to meet these requirements is by joining a compliance scheme similar to the one being run by GreenPak, it said.

GreenPak brings to Malta the Green Dot system, a "tried and tested" compliance scheme for the recovery of packaging waste.

Adopted globally in 27 countries and with over 19 million tonnes of packaging waste recovered across Europe during 2005, the Green Dot system has delivered consistently for more than a decade.

Companies participating in the GreenPak compliance scheme benefit from having their obligations taken care of by the recovery system operated by GreenPak. This also gives the right to the company to show the Green Dot symbol on the packaging sold to consumers.

GreenPak said packaging is wasteful and voluminous and there appears to be a disproportionate amount of packaging when compared to the goods we buy.

Christmas is a time for parties and exchanging of gifts between families and friends - all the ingredients required to generate tonnes of packaging waste.

It is estimated that Malta generates over 70,000 tonnes of such waste every year.

For more information about GreenPak and the Green Dot scheme log on to www.greenpak.co.mt.