Over the past few weeks, many companies have joined the GreenPak packaging recovery scheme with the result that its operating costs are now distributed over a larger market base. As a result, the cost of compliance for packaging recovery will be significantly less in 2008.

Maltese companies had until the end of last month to inform Mepa how in 2006 they had recycled packaging generated in the course of their business. In practice, individual companies find it difficult to recover such packaging generated by their trade. Instead many have opted to sign up with the GreenPak authorised Compliance Scheme. When companies voluntarily join GreenPak, the individual company’s obligations are transferred onto the scheme and GreenPak then recovers packaging waste on their behalf.

A spokesperson of GreenPak said yesterday that as the scheme runs a not-for-profit policy the increase in volumes registered over the last weeks, meant that if the 2007 compliance fees are to be carried forward into next year, then at the end of 2008, there will be a surplus of funds on the scheme.

To manage this surplus before it happens, GreenPak is taking steps to reduce its 2008 fees by at least 30% over the current rates. This reduction is expected to be well received by companies trading in consumer goods such as food items, beverages, clothes, toiletries, stationery, detergents, paints, electrical goods, pharmaceuticals and any other packaged product that becomes waste.

“When you take into consideration this price reduction and the imminent refunds on eco-contribution, companies should now more readily accept their producers’ responsibility for recycling packaging”, said Denise Vassallo spokesperson for GreenPak. As more companies continue to join this scheme, it is not being excluded that further price reductions will be announced before the start of 2008, added Ms. Vassallo

Law abiding and environmentally conscious companies have since last year been helping GreenPak divert packaging waste away from landfill and towards recycling. In 2006, the GreenPak system well surpassed the national recovery targets and is again on course to repeat this achievement in 2007.

GreenPak is part of the European wide Green Dot organisation that is responsible for diverting millions of tonnes of discarded consumer packaging away from landfill and towards recycling.

Companies can make use of the various services offered by the scheme by filling in the necessary forms available on the GreenPak website at www.greendot.com.mt.