Over the past week, there has been much talk about the eco-contribution. What is an eco-contribution and what is the principle behind it?
The eco-contribution targets products which result in waste. It aims to rope in industry so that it may seriously consider the cost implications waste management has on the economy.
The challenge this law puts on producers/importers is for them to become exempt from paying this contribution by ensuring that they are responsible towards the product they put on the market.
As soon as the product becomes waste (that is, at its end of life) the importer/producer assumes responsibility for its recovery, recycling or treatment.
It may prove difficult for each and every importer to have their own scheme running. Experience elsewhere has shown that producers/importers team up, possibly by sector, and organise their own recovery and recycling schemes.
Naturally, these have to be approved schemes and not ones that end up with having products dumped illegally or back into the general waste stream. Importers/producers themselves may opt not to organise recovery schemes themselves but pass on the responsibility to a waste manager or a similar organisation and pay a participation fee.
What is wrong in having a retailer offering me a discount for returning my old fridge when I go to buy a new appliance from him? It saves me time and effort to try and dispose of the old one.
In this way, the importer of the fridge has collected an old fridge for the new one he has sold and as a consumer has rid me of the responsibility and headache to get rid of the old one. There will come a time when consumers expect this from retailers and not expect Government to carry away an old fridge from near their front door or from deep within a valley.
Does the consumer today have a choice between products that pollute the environment and those that do not, or do so to a minimum degree?
Yes, the consumer may choose eco-friendly products, just as they may choose products which produce less waste or products for which they do not pay extra because they are part of a recovery scheme.
Should not the consumer therefore, be offered the choice to pay less for the eco-friendly product?
An eco-friendly refrigerator and an ordinary refrigerator will be charged the same contribution unless either or both of these form part of a take-back scheme. This contribution is motivated with waste management in mind and, as far as waste management is concerned, both products entail an expense at end of life.
This is reflected in the same contribution each of these products has to pay. Although there has been much criticism directed towards this, I understand that people expect an incentive for opting for a 'green' product.
While I agree, it is good to keep in mind that green products benefit consumers by being more energy-efficient, for example.
The more compliant a product becomes with take-back schemes, the lower the costs imposed on it and the bigger the incentive for consumers to opt for it. This is a start and with it a new dawn of mentality.
What is the incentive to the consumer? The old mentality may prevail whereby if I paid for a product to be disposed of, then I might as well dispose of it carelessly.
There is a possibility that the old mentality will be evident in the short term. Firstly, I strongly suggest that each and every one of us does well to protect our own environment by adopting the new waste management schemes.
Already WasteServ is trying to introduce a new culture to improve waste management practices and still there are people who abuse the system. Take bring-in sites. These are continuously abused.
However, neither my team nor I will be disturbed by such behaviour. This, however, drains money and resources to amend things and clean up the mess.
Secondly, it must be borne in mind that the new local legislation on electronic goods, packaging, vehicles, etc., are or will impose the responsibility on importers/ producers to recover/recycle a percentage of what they put on the market when it becomes waste.
Whether it is through an eco-contribution or not, importers/producers still have to recover products and many parent companies have already set similar systems up to help develop this. Therefore, importers/producers should be encouraged to comply with these systems and set up their own recovery schemes.
What is WasteServ's role in all this?
To date WasteServ had the obligation to close the existing landfills, provide engineered facilities and contribute towards meeting the recycling targets of packaging waste. Both the local legislation and that of the other EU countries obliges the producer and importer to shoulder the responsibility for the management of the waste generated by their products.
WasteServ has contracted the necessary study to implement this system and will assist all stakeholders to meet the national obligations to safeguard our environment.
This new eco-contribution initiative is putting a value on the waste to make it attractive to the private sector to get involved in waste management. From the outset, WasteServ was created with the intention for it to gradually recede. The sooner industry adopts these schemes the quicker WasteServ's role will diminish. This is one of our main goals.
It is incomprehensible in today's day and age to think that a product that has taken so much effort to manufacture and market (for example a plastic bottle) to be used for just a few seconds and then disposed of and allowed to rot for decades in the environment.
The time has come to ensure that the life of these products is extended. Take-back schemes are therefore a step forward in this direction.
Consumers should become aware of all this and this is WasteServ's role. WasteServ will educate and create awareness so that consumers can make more informed decisions on what product is being marketed with waste management in mind.
Another role of WasteServ is to educate consumers against producers and importers who take advantage and abuse the system.
Finally, therefore, another role of WasteServ is to facilitate the setting up of recovery schemes through constant liaison with producers/importers, as well as recyclers as has been happening over the past months.
The role of WasteServ is not to interfere but encourage industry to organise its own product take-back schemes. Naturally, WasteServ may offer a service, for example, in the use of its new Material Recovery Facility (for sorting scrap) and charging for that service.
Economies of scale may not make it possible to duplicate efforts and WasteServ may facilitate the schemes in this way.
Is this eco-contribution aimed at achieving specific targets imposed by the EU?
The targets imposed by the EU and adopted by Government are for the benefit of everyone. Malta already disposes of about 80 million plastic bottles from households.
The harm on the environment is already there, whether we increase more plastic to the waste stream or not. What is needed are recovery schemes, preferably privately owned, to reduce the waste stream more effectively.
As long as a product continues to find its way in the general waste stream, it continues to occupy valuable land for landfill and will continue to be charged the eco-contribution.
The minute the product disappears from the general waste stream, there will be no charge on it as landfill space is conserved. So, while the eco-contribution should help to meet the targets, it is there to cover the cost of a product finding its way into the waste stream.
Whether the targets are met or not, the eco-contribution will still be paid if a product continues to be handled by WasteServ.
It is very important to appreciate that the targets are the importers/producers' responsibilities. With this eco-contribution in mind these economic operators should feel motivated to get organised for take-back schemes.
How will the eco-contribution encourage local producers and importers to recycle their products?
As discussed previously, this eco-contribution encourages producers and importers to recover, recycle and treat their products because, by doing so, they become exempt from paying this contribution.
From now on, their responsibility towards the product they put on the market does not stop once a product is sold. The eco-contribution should therefore encourage producers/importers to join forces and set up schemes for recovery and recycling.
What is being done to encourage consumers to hand in discarded appliances, such as is being done with old telephone directories and used batteries?
So far there has not been any consistent effort by the private sector to encourage consumers to hand in discarded appliances. Each council offers a weekly service for bulky waste and this is how most appliances are collected.
This waste is treated and directed towards recycling and this is a cost to Government. Other consumers don't even bother to use this service and a variety of fridges, mattresses, and washing machines end up becoming part of the landscape when certain individuals decide to dump randomly along the Maltese countryside.
This simply cannot carry on - hence the educational and awareness campaign I referred to above.
The eco-contribution calls for a radical change whereby the producers or importers themselves organise systems and schemes for collection. These schemes, which are widespread in other European countries, make it attractive for consumers to dispose of their waste safely.
Will the revenue generated from the eco-contribution cover WasteServ's costs to collect this type of waste?
Again, as I clearly stated earlier, if it is the producers and the importers who devise the scheme for collection, WasteServ's role will diminish.
WasteServ is currently investing heavily to make sure that all the facilities are in place. The company is also in the process of introducing Civic Amenity Sites (recycling stations) for the disposal of recyclable waste and bulky waste.
These sites need to be managed and so, once again, this is a reminder that waste and its proper management comes at a cost. However, with the eco-contribution, it becomes more effective to invest in a recovery system rather than leaving it up to the Government.
Leaving it up to the Government and WasteServ would mean having to pay the tax to finance the recovery of this waste, which ends up in the general waste stream.
Once again, it is very important to appreciate that this new eco-contribution initiative is putting a value on the waste to encourage the private sector to get involved in waste management. The sooner industry adopts these schemes, the quicker WasteServ's role will diminish.
When are we going to see waste separation at source really take off in this country and in all localities in Malta and Gozo?
This too is an important question. Waste separation has in fact taken off and since the closure of Maghtab, more emphasis is being made so that more recyclable waste is recovered instead of being landfilled.
For example 50,000 tyres and 1,700 mattresses have been shredded and exported since WasteServ was established. Cardboard is being separated and exported and the 30 bring-in sites in Malta and Gozo also play an important role in recovering recyclable material.
We are planning to increase the number of bring-in sites to around 400 and these should be allocated and placed in designated areas.
Green waste is also taken to Sant'Antnin for composting, and metal and aluminium are being recovered and are also sent for recycling. In addition to all of this no construction or inert waste enters Ta' Zwejra, unless it is required for daily cover.
Waste separation is therefore on the increase and the public is becoming more aware of the need to recycle. WasteServ is now finalising an implementation plan formulated through technical assistance, funded by EU pre-accession funds, which will serve as a guide for waste separation to become more widespread.
However, when we talk of waste separation, it is not simply about householders using bring-in sites and separating their waste at home. It is also about industry. Industry has to set up its own schemes to attain targets. It must therefore be a concerted effort by all.
Can local councils do more to encourage recycling and waste collection in their localities? How?
Many local councils are beginning to realise that providing facilities, such as bring-in sites, are necessary but this has to be accompanied by education.
The implementation plan soon to be discussed with local councils puts an emphasis on the importance of local councils encouraging recycling in their localities.
Here too WasteServ needs the full co-operation of each and every local council if we expect to reach the targets set.
Are you envisaging a backlash from people who have been separating waste at source and now feel they have no incentive to continue doing so?
People need to be informed more about the aims of the eco tax and that it is the producer who needs to take responsibility of the waste s/he puts on the market.
Ultimately, the same people who are eager to separate their waste for a better environment will also realise that it is better to buy products which consider waste management.
It is therefore not only about separating waste; it is also about making the informed choices even when we buy products.
After the unacceptable Maghtab dump experience, people are slowly realising that waste comes at a cost and that the polluter must pay for that cost. But it does not stop at that; the polluter can find a solution.
There will come a time when the consumer will expect the producer to offer incentives and not for the Government to do so. Ultimately, we are finally witnessing a national discussion on waste - we are starting to realise that our waste doesn't vanish the moment we get rid of it.
This national debate must continue as consumers will be encouraged to think about the choices they make.
Finally, I strongly believe that waste management should be left out of the political arena and not used as a means of confusing issues for what could be considered petty political gain.
Efficient waste management is the responsibility of all and the problems and the solutions need to be appreciated by every Maltese.
What WasteServ has embarked on is a massive educational campaign and consequently a cultural change. This may take some time to implement but there has to be a beginning and the time is now.