I am in complete disagreement with a statement made by a spokesman of the Ministry of Finance, who said the recent budget was clear on the plastic bags issue.
As a matter of fact, it was totally unclear as retail outlets, manufacturers as well as wholesalers were left in the dark over what is actually happening.
The eco tax system introduced in 2005 was a complete disaster, so much so that the Prime Minister publicly admitted this during a recent conference organised by the GRTU at the Hilton. His answer was: "I am fed up seeing plastic bags all over the place, even in the sea. It is true that the system on eco tax did not work, now we shall try this system and hope that it works."
However, he did not state that the system did not work because the authorities concerned were incapable of enforcing the law.
Abuse was rampant, with full container-loads of non-degradable plastic bags passing through customs, as well as the VAT department, without any enforcement whatsoever.
To add insult to injury, the Malta Standards Authority, from information given to us, does not have the means to distinguish between degradable and bio-degradable bags. Nevertheless, all the bags were dumped on the market, with harmful effects on our environment.
The sad thing is that the people who introduced this eco-contribution law, and made a complete mess of it, are the same ones who have come up with this 15 euro cent eco-contribution on every bag, whether it is non-degradable, degradable or bio-degradable.
It is a grave mistake not to distinguish between non-degradable, degradable and bio-degradable bags, for they have a completely different effect on the environment.
It is a fact that plastic bags will be used, whether eco-tax is two or 15 euro cents. However, it would make more sense to the retailers to go for a non-degradable bag as these are more durable and would serve as an advert promoting their outlet.
The fact that the authorities were unable to collect the one euro cent on the old eco-contribution system casts grave doubt as to their ability to collect 15 euro cents on each bag from retailers such as hawkers, green grocers, ironmongers, confectioners etc., most of whom are outside the VAT system.
If there is any truth that the government intends to reduce the amount of plastic bags in circulation and not collect money - I presume that its intention is to protect the environment - then why not go for bio-degradable bags, and invest in proper enforcement?