Shops must not become 'waste depots' - GRTU

The Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU will mobilise its members in protest if the government forges ahead with its waste recycling plans, the GRTU said yesterday.

In a statement the GRTU expressed its concern at the way the government was managing this issue, highlighting the dearth of consultations with the chamber.

"It seems the government has already chosen the path it wishes to follow," it said.

It seemed the government was planning to impose additional costs on shop and bar owners by means of a deposit on minerals and other glass, plastic and metal containers, to encourage consumers to return the containers to the outlet where they bought them. Bar and shop owners do not wish their shops to become waste depots. The government knows that to date there is no law that empowers it to impose this charge on shop owners, the GRTU said.

"The majority of businesses don't have the space, nor do they want the hassle or costs involved in accepting this waste for hygiene and health reasons, among others. The GRTU is warning shop and bar owners to be on the lookout for these manoeuvres."

The GRTU is calling on the government to make it clear that it does not intend to impose any law that chastises consumers and shop owners.

It also wants the government to declare that it does not intend to impose a monopoly when it comes to issuing permits to those who want to invest in recycling and waste collection.