Waste firms in war of words

The Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises – GRTU denied claims it had given wrong advice to Maltese traders.

It said the accusations made in its regard by waste recovery company GreenPak were not only fabrications but attempted to destabilise “a growing commitment by the business community to further assume responsibility of their own packaging waste”.

The GRTU runs its own waste recovery company – Green MT.

GreenPak said earlier this week that between 2006 and 2008, when Maltese traders could either join GreenPak for packaging recycling or engage in self-compliance, the GRTU advised traders not to join a compliance scheme.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority is fining those that did not comply.

The GRTU denied the claims adding that: “Such statements by GreenPak are a mere attempt of putting the GRTU and Green MT in a bad light.”

The GRTU pointed out that companies that chose to join GreenPak back in 2006 were effectively paying double for their environmental obligation, paying GreenPak and also an eco contribution. Only now were they being refunded for the period 2005 to 2008. The refund consisted of a percentage of what they contributed to GreenPak and not the full eco contribution, the GRTU said.

GreenPak yesterday stood by its first statement.

EU waste packaging regulations make Maltese traders responsible for setting up systems for the collection and recycling of packaging waste generated through their trade. They can either set up their own take-back system or join a scheme to ensure legal compliance.

Green Dot Malta Ltd was incorporated in 2004 as GreenPak Ltd and was licensed by Der Grune Punkt Duales System Deutschland GmbH to use the world-known Green Dot trademark.

The GRTU, through a subsidiary company, launched its waste recovery scheme under the name Green MT Ltd in 2007.