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Julian Manduca
Malta’s preparedness for EU membership has always been in doubt and as time passes the belief that Malta does not have the political will, administrative capacity and forward planning necessary to fall in line with EU Directives and Regulations is gaining credence. In the sphere of environmental management and achieving EU standards Malta still has a long way to go.
Almost immediately after membership one target fell by the wayside and in all probability the next hurdle in December 2004 will also go with the wind. As of 1 May 2004 Malta was meant to ‘recover’ between 20 and 65 per cent of packaging waste. Waste recovery can take the form of reuse, or recycling but in the wider context it has been accepted in the EU to include packaging waste that is incinerated with energy recovery. On that same date Malta was meant to have achieved recycling targets of between 18 and 45 per cent of packaging waste with a minimum of 25 per cent by weight for glass; 27 per cent by weight for metals; 5 per cent by weight for plastic and 25 per cent by weight for paper and board contained in packaging waste.
MaltaToday is informed that as at May 2004 the rates of recovery stood at about 2.5 per cent and less than 1 percent of total packaging waste was recycled. Malta has been well aware of its obligations under the packaging for several years ago, but it must be painfully clear that it was unable to organise a waste collection and recycling scheme that would have assisted the achievement of those targets. The scenario does not look like improving fast as there is considerable disagreement as to how to move forward.
To rub salt in the wounds by the end of December 2004 Malta is obliged to recover between 27 and 65 percent of packaging waste and recycle between 21 and 45 percent. By December the targets for the recycling of the different elements of packaging waste will increase as follows: to 30 per cent by weight for glass; 31 per cent by weight for metals and 30 per cent by weight for paper and board in packaging weight. The target for plastics in packaging weight will remain the same at 5 per cent.
Reaching targets
It is clear that Malta cannot reach the targets set in its own law but environment minister George Pullicino told MaltaToday the new law forces industry to take responsibility for the packaging waste it produces : “put the responsibility on all importers, manufacturers and other economic operators that put all types of packaging on the market to take responsibility for the packaging waste that result from the consumption or use of their products and must recycle and recover these so as not to end up in the waste stream and eventually at the landfill. This recycling and recovery of packaging can be achieved through an arrangement with a third party.”
According to the law the minister in conjunction with MEPA and industry can take measures to ensure that the targets are achieved and producers can be asked to accept packaging waste from consumers and or collect and recover or recycle waste, but no measures have so far been put in place.
Given that Malta is falling foul of EU law it exposes itself to possible EU fines and although it is not likely Malta will be called upon to pay for its misdemeanors, it cannot continue to flout EU Directives for an extended period of time.
Pullicino is aware that Malta cannot achieve the targets stipulated in the law and said: “You realise that this is a revolutionary step forward that needs drastic changes in mentality and the finalising of the arrangements as mentioned above, it also needs the setting up of the required infrastructure for the recycling, recovery and perhaps shipment of packaging waste to other countries. All this cannot be achieved overnight.”
The minister, however, believes the Eco contribution will assist in reaching the targets set and states that the government cannot shoulder the responsibility for recycling alone: “The recently published Eco-Contribution legislation has had the effect of accelerating the discussions on the matter. I am convinced that were it not for the Eco-Contribution the process would have taken much longer.
“The situation where basically anybody can put on the market anything and then it is up to Government to shoulder the responsibility for the management of the ensuing waste is not sustainable. Economic operators, and even consumers, must shoulder at least some of this responsibility and the packaging regulation provide the way forward in this sector.”
Disagreement about how to go forward
MaltaToday is informed that there is disagreement about how go set about achieving the recycling and recovery targets with industry favouring a Green Dot type system – which would mean collection of packaging waste from households - and the authorities (WasteServ and MEPA) preferring a deposit and refund system which would mean that consumers would return packaging to shops to reclaim their deposit.
The Green Dot system asks companies producing waste to make a financial contribution in return for taking responsibility for waste collection, recovery and recycling. The public would be encouraged to collect and dispose Green Dot products separately from the rest waste.
Ing Mario Schembri is promoting the Green Dot system and MaltaToday asked him how he believed that system would assist Malta to achieve its targets. According to Schembri “The Green Dot system is specifically designed to meet these recycling targets. Since regulation is in place for all importers and producers to collect and recycle their waste, the Green Dot compliance scheme provides an umbrella organisation under which such companies are able to do so.” However waste experts doubt that people will be encouraged to separate their waste unless a monetary incentive is in place.
Schembri told MaltaToday industry would be responsible for collecting the packaging waste but the Green Dot organization would take on that responsibility once the companies join: “The responsibility for the collection of packaging waste lies with each and every company that is trading products on the Maltese market. Every single one of them. On becoming members of the Green Dot compliance scheme, they transfer this responsibility onto the organisation.”
Quizzed as to where the waste will be recycled, Schembri said: “Whether waste packaging materials are recycled in Malta or abroad depends largely on logistics and commercial factors. If there are facilities on the island to recycle a specific material and which is commercially viable, then yes this will be done in Malta. If on the other hand there is no such facility or the costs are so high that it is cheaper to export the material for recycling elsewhere, than that is how it will be done.
“In truth, we are at present in a ‘chicken and egg’ situation. Few recyclers exist on the island because until now there have been few opportunities. So does it follow that
because we do not have the recycling facilities then we do not recycle? The Green Dot system will help create that market and private investors will be more interested in setting up such recycling facilities here rather than sending such material abroad.”
While The Green Dot system is not favoured by the authorities Schembri says industry is enthusiastic: “The industry recognises that it has a role to play. Many companies are accepting their producer responsibilities. Many now realise that by committing themselves to improve the environment, will ultimately benefit their business.
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