I read with interest the article New Packaging For Soft Drinks (December 20), which informs the reader that popular soft drinks are finally being sold locally in plastic bottles, described by the company marketing these soft drinks as being "lightweight, convenient, easier to handle" as well as offering "value-added pricing".

While I'm sure most consumers will prefer the plastic bottles to the old returnable glass bottles for the reasons mentioned by the company, my concern is that the company does not offer any incentive whatsoever so that these "advantageous" plastic bottles will impact less on the environment. Soft drinks in plastic bottles have been available in other European countries for several years already. However in the majority of them there are very sophisticated recycling procedures in place and consumers are actively encouraged by the local authorities to recycle. In Germany, companies offer a few euro cents for the return of plastic bottles to supermarkets and other authorised outlets, thus further minimising the impact of these bottles on the environment.

Perhaps such a system can be implemented in Malta, so that most of the bottles sold would go back to the company that will ultimately be responsible for their recycling.