No proof that all of Malta's packaging waste was being recycled had been presented by Mepa and the most recent statistics, which dated back to 2008, showed that the country only managed to recycle 12 per cent of its packaging waste, the PL's spokesman for the Environment said.

Addressing a news conference, Leo Brincat said that according to EU directives, member states were expected to recycling around half their packaging waste.

He said that a PL proposal to exempt small operators who only used a small amount of carton during the year, from having to register as waste producers, remained unheeded although there were people within Mepa who believed this proposal made sense.

It was worrying that only some 2,700 commercial entities had registered as producers, out of the 10,000 or so which should have done so. And it was no consolation that the figure had increased by some 1,500 in the past four years.

Mr Brincat referred to statements that 100 companies were expected to be arraigned in court in the coming days, charged with ignoring Mepa instructions.

Although the PL was in favour of law enforcement, it would have been better had Mepa said whether these companies were registered or not, he said. This was because one could form part of a scheme without the company being registered with Mepa, Mr Brincat said.