VALLETTA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Some 70 percent of plastic bottles will be reclaimed through a nationwide refund scheme by 2019, Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced at the Our Ocean conference 2017 being held in Malta on Thursday.
Muscat said that plastic bottles are not the only issue, and plastics since the 1940s are still dispersed in the environment. To begin reducing plastic waste, Malta will create marine protected areas in 30 percent of its waters by 2018.
This is adding to the already established protected area that is larger than the island itself. The new marine protected area will help to protect caves and coral reefs. A management plan for the area will be developed by 2020.
Malta also plans to build a Commonwealth Small States Centre of Excellence that will provide practical support to maintain the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals and give additional support in marine protected area management,Muscat added.
"Malta is at the forefront of ensuring that our oceans remain preserved for our future," he concluded.
