Private sector to propose a viable, not for profit, Beverage Container Refund System

Four national organisations have come together with the principal aim of giving constructive feedback to government on its proposed Beverage Container Refund System (BCRS) and recommending a viable alternative solution to the scheme set out in the consultation document.

The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, GRTU, Green Pak Coop and Green MT this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding and have been actively working towards finding workable solutions towards meeting the new ambitious targets for the recovery and recycling of beverage containers. The four entities firmly believe that industry and the private sector are capable of managing the system with enhanced efficiency and cost-effectiveness while the government should limit itself solely to a regulatory role along with effective enforcement.

On their part, the role of the four entities in this task force shall be to design a new private sector-led, not for profit system based on current best practices in the EU, and which will provide the best service to their respective client-membership-base as well as to the consumer.

To this end, in the coming days, the bodies and the authorised schemes shall collaborate with each other to actively engage with all relevant stakeholders. These will include manufacturers and bottlers of beverages, importers, distributors and wholesalers, retail outlets including supermarkets and smaller outlets, hotels and catering establishments as well as other waste operators/intermediaries and collectors.