The eco-tax will no longer have to be paid on electronic equipment as from September 1 when regulations linked with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive will come into force, Environment Minister Leo Brincat said this afternoon.

Within the next few weeks, two legal notices will be published: one amending the Eco Contribution Act to remove the payment of the tax on electronic items, and the other introducing regulations according to the WEEE directive.

Eco contribution was introduced in 2004, based on the polluter pays principle, making importers pay for the recycling and treatment of a range of items ranging from beverage containers to fridges.

Now, following a Budget 2015 promise, importers will no longer have to pay eco tax on electronic and electrical equipment but will have to abide by the WEEE directive.

This will act as an incentive to recycle electronic equipment that include phones, laptop, fridges and washing machines.

They will have until the end of August to inform Mepa, as the regulator, whether they will be doing so by joining an authorised scheme or whether they will be self-regulated according to the directive.

They can also choose whether they will place a bank guarantee or opt for an insurance as a safeguard and commitment that they will be abiding by the directive.