Deposit should be 25 cents or higher - FOE

The deposit for each bottle in the proposed plastic return scheme should be 25 cents or higher, Friends of the Earth Malta said yesterday.

The government had previously announced that the deposit, which would be added to the price of each beverage container, would be of 10 cents. The scheme should be implemented by the end of 2019.

FOI yesterday said the scheme was a step in the right direction to both tackle the low recycling rates and also the issue with littering that is still widespread.

It also issued a number of recommendations aimed at making the scheme more efficient.

The engo said said a rate of 25c per container, or higher, is more adequate since it will increase return rates of containers.

“This is especially true when considering tourists and visitors in Malta who would need a further incentive to trade their time for a deposit return. Having a higher deposit charge will also introduce a value for material resources that go into the production of the container. This in term may lead to higher recycling rates in the future, if this scheme is paired with an educational campaign.”

Further monetary incentive should be given to people who opt for refillable containers. For example, a consumer who is using a reusable container can pay a deposit of 20c and get a return of 25c. The cost of such a measure can come out of the money collected through the Beverage Containers Refund Fund, the eNGO said.

It said the scheme should be more comprehensive and extended to other packaging that were not mentioned in the BCRS proposal. “This will not only increase recycling rates, but also increase consumer awareness of the importance of recycling, while not discriminating against specific businesses.”

FOE said the scheme should tackle all beverage containers including wine, spirits and liquors bottles. This would encourage the reach of higher recycling targets and also does not introduce a disadvantage towards producers of certain beverages.

It should also be widened to the plastic packaging of other products that have a relatively low viscosity but are not beverages, such as food items (eg. Syrups, vinegar, dressings), and hygiene products (laundry liquid, liquid soap, household cleaning liquid products).

The scheme should include other packaging (not plastic) that contain other food items, such as jars for pickles, etc.

FOE agrees with making no distinction between size of bottle for the scope of the BCRS; this links to points proposed above on broadening the scope of the return scheme.