Tax exemptions granted for recycling of packaging waste - companies await refunds

Fifty-three member companies of GreenPak, the operator of the largest waste recovery scheme in Malta, are to be exempted from paying eco-tax contributions as from today.

The company said it had applied for an eco-tax exemption on behalf of these members earlier this month.

Companies need to form part of a MEPA authorised waste recovery scheme and participate in the financing of the recycling of packaging waste in order to qualify for tax exemptions.

GreenPak's waste recovery scheme was established in 2005 and has over 300 member companies.

Ing. Mario Schembri, GreenPak’s CEO, welcomed the granting of the tax-exempt status. “This is a great milestone for waste recovery and recycling in Malta. It should also significantly contribute towards improving Malta’s recycling performance which stands at 10%.

Like Malta, the Czech Republic, Poland and the Baltic States have joined the EU in 2004 but their recycling performance ranges from 47% to 64%. The Cypriots manage to recycle over 25% of their waste, leaving Malta at the bottom of the EU waste recycling table.

Mr Schembri said that as the next logical and fair step, GreenPak was looking forward to rapid progress on the payment of refunds by the government for eco-tax paid by companies since 2006.

Since 2006, through its uninterrupted operations, GreenPak scheme has recovered over 10 million kilograms of packaging waste, diverting them from landfills in Malta.

Another packaging waste compliance scheme Green MT, also welcomed the tax exemptions granted to its members.

Green MT, a fully owned subsidiary of the Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises (GRTU) has, since July 2009, recovered over 12,000 tons of packaging waste from 41 Local Councils, Bring-in-Sites and private industries. The recovery of this recyclable waste has been duly certified by WasteServ (Malta) Ltd.

"Despite the problems encountered through the legislation process we now look forward to amendments to the current legislation so that future exemptions are guaranteed for members of Waste Packaging Compliance Schemes that recover and recycle over 70% of packaging waste placed on the market, Vince Farrugia, Chairman of Green MT said.

He said the GRTU would continue to insist with its members in all sectors to comply with packaging waste legislation so that a fair and level market playing field was created for one and all.