The Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises is doing well to oppose waste deposit system that would see “customers going to outlets to receive a refund for beverage packaging” (TMID, 30 March).

The reasons the GRTU is giving are real. Outlets where empty cartons of milk and juices are returned will become a sort of dumping ground.

It is a good idea that people do not throw these empty cartons away, for environment reasons, but at the other end one cannot expect retailers to become waste collectors. While the system of returned glass bottles, that has been in force for so many years, is acceptable, I think that the return of dripping empty juice and milk cartons is not.

Where does the Rural Affairs and Environment Ministry think such waste will be collected? Do retailers have this storage space?

How often will such waste be collected?

I do not believe that this is the right way of doing things. There should be more consideration for retailers who already have to bear the brunt of so many things.

T. Grech

Sliema