Whenever WasteServ suspected that information provided by the contractors responsible for the collection of the waste was not correct, it informed the local council, which is the client of the contractor collecting the waste.

Labour environment spokesman Leo Brincat has called for a "serious investigation" into reports that a recyclable-waste collector inflated its figures to be eligible for an eco-contribution refund.

WasteServ said it submitted the information it collected to the authorities and councils that requested it.

"WasteServ issues wastes processed at the Sant Antnin Plant for sale each month and the prices are published.

"This waste generally consists of a number of fractions which include paper, cardboard, different types of plastic, metal, aluminium, glass and other recyclable materials.

"The award process is conducted by WasteServ in the presence of representatives of the two schemes and after there are no objections from them to conclude the sale.

"It is estimated that about 60 containers (40-foot) loads of recyclable material are exported every month from the Sant Antnin Plant.

"It is of great satisfaction to see how much void space is being saved at the landfill through separation of this waste by local residents."

WasteServ said that collection of waste was a privatised service and not part of WasteServ's responsibilities. Even the management of Bring-in Sites had been passed on to Councils so that together with the scheme chosen, they could benefit from the contents of these containers.

"Whoever collects waste and deposits it at WasteServ's Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) must declare the origin of the waste and the scheme on behalf of which he works.

"Part of the process is that the waste is weighed and detailed records are retained.

"The contractor remains obliged to pay the fees due to WasteServ as established by LN 128 of 1997 as amended. WasteServ's auditing process is applicable to the waste managed within the plant," it said.