Only 17 per cent of plastic bottles used are recovered by Wasteserv, prompting a Budget proposal for a collection scheme involving supermarkets and petrol stations.
But the idea is already proving controversial and has yet to be followed by a request for proposals for interested parties to submit their suggestions.
The scheme would be similar to the old practice of returning glass bottles to bottling companies through intermediaries, a scheme that had to be discontinued since EU membership because it was considered an obstacle to the free trade of goods.
Environmentalists are supporting the move but the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises – GRTU called the proposal “unacceptable” and would be “objecting heavily”. The organisation, has a commercial interest in waste separation and collection through its subsidiary company Green MT.
However, Environment Minister Leo Brincat insisted something has to be done to address the “long-festering problem” related to the poor recovery of plastic waste, which makes up some 12 per cent of waste generated.
“Our prime interest is in ensuring such an urgent need is addressed and translated into a concrete action plan as prevalent in various other EU jurisdictions,” Mr Brincat said, adding the GRTU praised the Budget after the government adopted four of its five proposals.
A European Environment Agency report last year sustains the minister’s concerns, saying Malta would need to make an exceptional effort to fulfil the target of 50 per cent (recycled waste) set out in the Waste Framework Directive. A June Eurobarometer report shows 88 per cent of the people think using resources more efficiently “very important”.
The GRTU said consumers were best assisted through the door-to-door collection now in place because the proposed scheme would place a “disproportionate” burden on supermarkets and petrol stations.
“We first heard of this in the Budget. Our members are not willing to enter into discussions because they don’t see how this can be done. Space and resources are issues of concern,” said the GRTU’s CEO, Abigail Mamo.
The GRTU also thinks the measure ignores the fact that supermarkets, as importers, already pay a scheme to collect recyclable waste they place on the market.
NGOs such as Friends of the Earth welcomed the proposal.
“Producers and businesses should be responsible for the waste they generate. Such a system will ensure that before putting a product on the market they consider the amount of packaging used, which is generally excessive and wasteful,” said chairman Martin Galea de Giovanni.
GRTU members could eventually save costs and resources by launching incentives for clients to return plastic items or by boosting the use of refillable items, he said.