This government will continue to fight for the reduction of excess packaging material despite sometimes contrasting views on the issue by the Trade and Environmental wings of the European Commission, said Minister George Pullicino yesterday.
Mr Pullicino was reacting to a question put by The Malta Independent during a press conference to announce that four local constituted bodies had agreed on a waste management scheme.
TMID asked whether Malta was in favour of the reduction of excess packaging, like many other European governments and pressure groups. “Of course we are. We will keep fighting our corner despite there sometimes being contrasting views on the issue within the EC,” said Mr Pullicino.
Mr Pullicino said that this deal to implement the waste management scheme was very important, especially due to the fact that Malta's derogation on glass bottling comes to a close in January.
He said that as a result of this, many will start importing non-alcoholic drinks in plastic containers and that many local producers might decide to start packing drinks in cans or plastic containers. “We need to ensure that the packaging is recouped and disposed of by producers and importers," said Mr Pullicino.
The agreement was signed by the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, the Malta Federation of Industry, the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association.
Through the creation of this scheme, companies will ensure that their producers’ obligations – recovering a specified amount of packaging waste – will be carried out. The four organisations agreed on the common principles to ensure that the obligations regarding waste packaging collection and recycling are upheld by the business community at large in the interest of all concerned.
Once the scheme is established, it will operate on a non-profit and transparent basis. Any surplus of funding will be re-invested in the company to further reduce rates for the benefits of their members.
The scheme is being introduced so Malta can conform to the EU’s waste directive and covers all forms of packaging whether it is used at industrial, commercial, office, shop, service or household level regardless of the material used.
The responsibilities extend to the whole lifecycle of the product even after it has served its useful purpose and become waste.
Producers are also obliged under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations to register the amount of packaging put on the Maltese market with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. Parliamentary secretary Tonio Fenech was also present during the signing of the agreement.