Title: The social impact of liberalisation of plastic bottles in Malta

Authors: Michael Briguglio, Diana Aquilina

Addresses: Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, University of Malta, Room 253, Old Humanities Building, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta. ' Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, University of Malta, Room 253, Old Humanities Building, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta

Abstract: This paper analyses the social impact of liberalisation of plastic bottles in Malta, wherein the system of returnable glass bottles has effectively been replaced by a system of disposable plastic bottles. The paper applies concepts such as Ulrich Beck|s (1992) |risk society|, and Michael Cahill|s (1994) |consumer society| to the issue under research. A quantitative survey administered in two Maltese localities shows that whilst there is a wide-ranging opposition towards the plastic bottles system, at the same time, most respondents are not ready to make financial contributions for a better environment. Such perceptions are compared with those of European counterparts.

Keywords: plastic bottles; risk society; environmental sociology; consumer society; Malta; social impacts; liberalisation; returnable bottles; glass bottles; disposable bottles; Ulrich Beck; Michael Cahill; quantitative surveys; local opposition; financial contributions; environmental improvements; waste management; sustainability; sustainable development; consumerism; soft drinks; beverages; consumer attitudes; packaging; Attard; Marsascala; bottling plants; refuse collection; recycling; Europe; green economics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGE.2010.037528

International Journal of Green Economics, 2010 Vol.4 No.3, pp.275 - 291

Published online: 15 Dec 2010 *

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