BoV slashes number of printed statements

Bank of Valletta is saving on the printing of no fewer than 200,000 statements annually, as over 93 per cent of its Internet subscribers opt to receive their statements online.

Michael Galea, head of BoV's CEO office, said that the internet banking and telephone banking services have hugely contributed towards reducing paper consumption. The challenging topic of waste management was the theme discussed during this year's BoV environment seminar.

Organised by BOV in collaboration with the Malta Business Bureau, the seminar focused on a topic that is currently high on the EU agenda and that is today generating considerable interest within the local industry.

Mr Galea said BoV is centrally collecting paper waste, which is then recycled. The bank has also entered into agreements with its suppliers to purchase re-manufactured toners and cartridges with a view to minimising the amount of waste generated. Environment Minister George Pullicino explained how Malta has drastically improved the way it managed its waste in the past four years.

Mr Pullicino spoke of a new door-to-door collection scheme for separated recyclable waste, which will be introduced in all localities on April 1. The new scheme is intended to complement, not replace, the bring-in sites (some 200) spread over Malta and Gozo. The scheme is being launched after extensive negotiations between the Government, the Local Councils Association and other constituted bodies.

Dr Christopher Ciantar, director of Environmental Initiatives at the Environment Ministry, gave details of plans to formulate a national door-to-door packaging waste recovery scheme.

Such a system will be financed by the Government for the first few months of operation. By July 1, this national scheme is expected to be handed over to local councils which will be free to negotiate with an authorised packaging scheme for the complete financing of the system.