Environment Minister George Pullicino has announced that businesses will be exempt from eco-contribution payments on packaging once these join a packaging waste authorised scheme.

The announcement follows talks between four constituted bodies – the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, the Federation of Industry, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, and the GRTU, Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises, with the government.

The Chamber of Commerce said the minister confirmed this during his speech at the seminar held on Wednesday on Tackling Waste Together – turning obligations into opportunities.

In addition to the announcement, the chamber added, an official from the ministry referred to the task force between representatives of the Chamber, FOI, MHRA, GRTU, the Local Councils Association, the Environment Ministry and the Ministry of Finance, which was close to set up a temporary collection mechanism which would include collections for recyclable waste and others for household/organic waste.

The ministry official stated that exemption would start for the beverage sector on 1 April, 2008 and for all the other sectors from 1 July, 2008.