The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry has welcomed recent developments with regard to the long-overdue payment of eco-contribution refunds.

Speaking on Friday, the chamber said it had been informed that member companies that formed part of an authorised waste management scheme during the period 2006 to 2008 have begun receiving the refunds due for this period. Such refunds became payable because, during the period 2006-2010, companies were obliged to pay both an eco-contribution and fees to waste management schemes, therefore becoming subjected to a dual payment. The Malta Chamber is satisfied that this protracted matter is finally being tackled by the authorities so that the resultant injustice is finally rectified.

The chamber was at the forefront of this matter right from the start. It consistently maintained that companies that were compliant with their legal obligations during that period were being discriminated against. Given that the pertinent regulations were not adequately enforced, this situation created an unlevel playing field for compliant operators.

In view of this, the chamber frequently maintained that due to the above double payment situation and the ensuing confusion caused between producer responsibility obligations and the Eco Contribution Act, the level of recycling of packaging and packaging waste in Malta had remained low, to the detriment of the consumers and the country’s environment.

Since 2006, the chamber has stressed the importance of companies joining authorised waste management schemes in line with their legal obligations as set out by LN 277 of 2006. It is now satisfied that, after all these years and long discussions, the authorities have heeded the advice of the business community and are finally disbursing the refunds that are rightfully due.

The chamber said it is now hopeful that the refunds due for the years 2009 and 2010 will also be granted within the shortest time possible.