Bring-in-site at your doorstep

A new waste separation scheme, which will be in place by the end of the year, will give people the choice of having their recyclable material collected from their doorstep rather than having to take it themselves to bring-in sites.

The Environment Ministry yesterday published a document outlining the scheme, which it plans to introduce towards the end of the year following public consultation.

Packaging waste is expected to increase dramatically on the expiry of a derogation Malta obtained from the EU banning the importation of a range of beverages not in glass bottles.

The derogation expires this year and, as of next January, the country is legally bound to have a system in place that can manage packaging waste.

A private company, Greenpak, already has a similar scheme ready to be implemented. However, companies complained that Greenpak would be operating a monopoly, which is why the government is now proposing its own waste separation scheme to give companies an alternative option.

A spokesman for the Environment Ministry explained that the government is not planning to compete with Greenpak or with any other firm granted a waste management licence.

"The government, however, understood the industry's concerns and decided to offer its own alternative option. Nonetheless, we would be collaborating with Greenpak not to duplicate work."

This means the government, Greenpak and any other licensed company will not be collecting waste from the same areas.

All schemes will be largely paid for by importers and producers who put packaging waste on the market.

In practice, all schemes will give people the option to have their separated waste collected from their doorstep on specific days, say paper on a Monday and glass on Wednesday. Each household will be given differently-coloured bags to be used for recyclable packaging waste, organic waste and other waste. They will also be available free from shops.

The bring-in sites will remain in order to accommodate those who don't find the set collection days convenient.