GreenPak submits first 53 applications for eco-tax exemptions
GreenPak, operators of the largest waste recovery scheme in Malta, have applied for an eco-tax exemption on behalf of 53 member companies.
These applications were submitted with the recently formed approving body whose role is to determine which companies are entitled to be exempted from the payment of eco contributions.
The criteria for granting an exemption from payment of eco-tax is set through a legal notice which, among other requisites, requires companies to form part of a Mepa authorised waste recovery scheme and participate in the financing of the recycling of packaging waste.
GreenPak waste recovery scheme was established in 2006 and now has more than 300 member companies working together under a cooperative society that helps finance the waste recovery schemes in many localities in Malta and Gozo.
The approving body is made up of representatives from the Malta Environmental and Planning Authority (Mepa) and the Resources and Finance ministries.
“For over 5 years, GreenPak has been urging the authorities to introduce eco-tax exemptions to companies that are financing waste recovery systems.
“Originally contemplated in the 2004 Eco-Contributions Act, such exemptions have been slow in coming.
“However, rapid progress is now being noted and GreenPak is currently negotiating with the authorities a provisional exemption prior to September 15; the day when the next eco-tax return is due.
“In this way, firms registered with the GreenPak waste recovery scheme will be exempted from paying the eco-tax contribution and will start benefiting immediately,” GreenPak’s CEO Mario Schembri said.
“Through its operations, GreenPak scheme has recovered over 10 million kilogrammes of packaging waste, diverting them from landfills,” he said.
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Joseph Attard
Sep 3rd 2010, 14:05
Green pak s reporting to MEPA , which is public information for the months of JAnuary to MArch 2010, shows that the Scheme has 171 members who placeed 616 tons of packaging waste in the market in the period. Its competitor Green mt has reported to MEPA, public information also that it has 22 members who placed 2171 tons of packaging waste in the market.
Green pak s reporting did not include any quantity recovered, in fact the information regarding recovery is missing. Green mt reported that they recovered 2546 tons of recyclables in the same period.
Greenpak states that they recovered 10,000 tons since 2006 , 4 years, whilst Green mt recovered 10,800 tons from JUly 01 , 2009 to end July 2010. ( 13months)
We will let businesses and the public in general decide which is the largest Scheme in the Maltese market.