This is such an important consumer issue that I must carry this article by Alexandra Cremona, Waste Campaigner, Friends of the Earth (Malta) over two weeks. This is the first part:

The environment shapes the quality of our lives. We all want to keep it a healthy and pleasant place to live; therefore, the creation of a healthy environment is vitally important in any society. Society consists of consumers who in some way or another contribute to the amount of waste generated on the Maltese islands.

Similarly, all members of society have a right to a safe and healthy environment. The waste issue is a prime example that portrays the interrelation between consumer choices and the quality of our environment.

The Maltese authorities, through Progett Skart (refuse project), have embarked on an ambitious task which would lead to a marked improvement in our perception, management and treatment of waste. Two important aspects stemming from Progett Skart are the involvement of all key players and education.

Consumers play an important role in the public participation process. It is their views and decisions that will alter the composition of our waste. Yet, consumers need to be better informed about waste issues in order to feel a part of this process. Educating consumers about the environment and waste management will:

* help them to recognise the vital role they play to create a change in waste management,

* enable them to make improved and more informed choices,

* equip them with knowledge and skills needed to contribute towards a participatory and consultative process,

* assist them in making a shift in their purchasing practices.

The second part, which will be featured next Sunday, will be about the three Rs: - Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

Sounds like another version of the Nigerian scam

The following scam is currently in circulation:

Hello,

I need your help. I am the wife/widow of Vlajko Stojiljkovic, one of the people indicted at the Hague War Crimes Tribunal in Hague. The indictment is politically motivated. It was for the package the western world has provided Yugoslavia. Slobodan and my husband had kept some funds, European currencies, in cash to enable them to take care of rebel problems. However, now the country they protected has turned against them. We need to transfer the money out to safety. The funds are in excess of 200 million dollars. They can be shipped under diplomatic immunity. They will then have to be paid into offshore accounts. They are not in Yugoslavia. Can you help? Are you capable of handling funds? Are you trustworthy? I have been asked to offer you 5%. Will that be OK? Please reply to me. I am grateful. (Glorja)

It seems that these kind of scams are perennial and we have to be constantly alert. This brings to mind the "AlphaClubdotcom" which we exposed as a scam and highlighted in this column. Indeed we had so many bitten people that we set up an action group to try to recoup some of the money so many people lost.

Unfortunately, as we later reported in this column, the action group looked into the matter thoroughly from a legal point of view and had to come to terms with the stark reality that nothing could be done.

I like to think that every cloud has a silver lining and the positive factor of bringing such experiences to the fore is that we can learn from them. In this spirit, from time to time, it makes sense to remind ourselves about such scams. In any case, don`t touch them!

On a positive note

I would like to share with your readers the pleasant customer care experience I had with Team Sport of Gallarija Darmanin, Lija.

I purchased a treadmill which had a faulty monitor. My complaints were heeded promptly and pleasantly. Jonathan Darmanin personally called on me at home to check the fault for himself. On another occasion he was accompanied by a technician. I was constantly reassured that, should I not be satisfied with the replaced part, the entire equipment would be replaced.

A few months later the replaced part broke down again. True to their promise Team Sport Ltd. replaced the faulty treadmill with a newer and more expensive model at no additional cost.

I would recommend Team Sport Ltd., and Mr Darmanin particularly, for their customer friendly attitude and excellent after-sales service. Congratulations indeed. (Arthur Galea Salomone)

I add my congratulations to Team Sport of Gallerija Darmanin.

I.M. Beck - obtuse

I refer to the positively concluded case about the deposit paid by two students on having ordered some Sidney Sheldon books (The Sunday Times, April 28). I.M. Beck made some comments about this case in his column (The Times, May 4) and asked some questions which I must answer.

He wrote:

Now, forgive me for being obtuse, but since when is Sidney Sheldon, an author of tripe-fiction, part of the reading list supplied by the Faculty of Management and Accountancy? Have these two girls played a bit fast and loose with their book-money, provided out of my taxes, and has no one seen fit to question this aspect of the silly affair? No wonder academic standards are plummeting. (I.M. Beck)

I must assure I.M. Beck that, contrary to what he suggested, I did see fit to question this aspect and I am satisfied that the two girls were not playing "a bit fast and loose" with "our good money".

However, while bearing in mind that I.M. Beck is a University Old Boy and currently a University lecturer, I find it very disturbing to note that he does not know about the extra assignments and/or optional credits which constitute an important part of what goes into obtaining a degree. The objective here is to examine the students` ability or skill to deal with issues and/or subject matters which are in no way related to the main subject of the relevant degree. In this specific context, the girls needed a background to compile a case study with regard to an extra assignment.

Indeed, I am surprised to note that Il-Bocca has not "seen fit to question this aspect of the silly affair".

No, don`t worry, Bocca, you are forgiven "for being obtuse". However, if I may use your own words, as you aptly put it "no wonder academic standards are plummeting".

Enforcement of Consumer Claims Tribunal decisions

This was supposed to be featured some weeks ago but was delayed because there were some points which needed clarification by our consumer law experts. We apologise for the delay, but unfortunately we have a constant backlog:

Article 25 (3) of the Consumer Affairs Act provides that a decision of the Consumer Claims Tribunal may be enforced by the Court of Magistrates in the same manner as if the decision were a judgment of the court.

Where the judgment of the tribunal condemns the trader to pay a liquidated sum, or to surrender a specific thing or perform an act or fulfil an obligation, this judgement is enforceable within two days of its being pronounced by the tribunal.

To enforce the judgment, the consumer may ask the Court of Magistrates to issue either an executive warrant of seizure of movable property (mandat ta` qbid) or an executive garnishee order (mandat ta` sekwestru).

A warrant of seizure is an order by the court to the marshal to seize from the possession of the trader, property equal in value to the sum claimed or to seize the thing mentioned in the judgement, by virtue of which the warrant has been issued.

If upon execution of the executive warrant of seizure, the trader still refuses to pay the amount due, the consumer has to file an application (rikors) in court asking for the judicial sale by auction (subbasta) of the goods seized. The consumer then recovers moneys, owed to him by virtue of the tribunal`s decision, from the proceeds of such sale.

Alternatively, the consumer may ask the court to issue an executive garnishee order, being an order from the court to the marshal to attach (sekwestru) in the hands of a third party moneys or moveable property, due to the consumer.

Following the issue of an executive garnishee order, which is normally executed upon a bank, the consumer should call upon the bank by means of a judicial act (ittra ufficjali) asking it to declare to the Registrar of Courts what moneys or things the bank has in its possession (which belong to the trader) and to lodge the things attached (sekwestrati) in court. If the bank has such belongings, it deposits the amount due to the consumer by virtue of tribunal`s judgment under the court`s authority. The consumer may then withdraw the money due to him from the court.

It must be pointed out here that the percentage of traders not honouring the tribunal`s decisions is not high as most traders normally comply with the decision. However on the advice of the Consumer Affairs Council, names of traders who do not comply with such decisions are published in the media.

I thank Dr George Hyzler, Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Consumer Affairs, and Marcel Pizzuto, Director General, Consumer and Competition Division, for this contribution.

Packaging

We have received a consumer-related contribution from the Malta EU Information Centre sent in by Elaine Cordina:

To begin with, the EU makes a distinction between packaging and pre-packaging. Packaging is the physical material the product arrives in. On the other hand, pre-packaging, is the product placed in a package which cannot be altered unless opened. Precisely because packaging can have such a direct effect on consumers, the EU has a set of standards that are intended both for the maximum safety of the consumer, as well as to prevent further deterioration to the environment. Quick-frozen food, for instance, must be packaged in pre-packaging which protects it against external contamination and drying. Any dangerous substances must be packaged in a way that prevents any of the contents being lost. The package in this case must be resistant to attack and must not form harmful compounds with the contents.

Furthermore, it must have child-resistant fastenings. Any container which holds any such dangerous substances cannot have any shape or design that can attract children or mislead consumers.

The EU also sets standards for the recovery and recycling of packaging. For 2001, the target was 25-45 per cent recycling and 50-65 per cent recovery. During negotiations with the EU, Malta is requesting a transitional period of three years to put into place the collection and recovery systems necessary for this last issue. Malta is also requesting to maintain its re-usable glass containers for non-alcoholic beverages.

The EU has also initiated a voluntary eco-label scheme that seeks to encourage the production of environment-friendly products. This can be awarded for various product groups decided upon by the Commission.

Among many other requirements to obtain an eco-label for one`s product, packaging is usually an essential criteria. For instance, manufacturers of light bulbs must use 60 per cent recycled packaging to qualify for the label. Manufacturers of dish detergents must reduce the amount of packaging used in the product. Any cardboard packaging shall be 80 per cent recycled and refills shall be provided whenever they are sold in a container, box, or bottle.