Extended Producer Responsibility in the Maltese Islands. By Ms Suzanne Cassar Dimech

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1 Extended Producer Responsibility in the Maltese Islands By Ms Suzanne Cassar Dimech

2 EPR in the Maltese Islands Eco-Contribution was introduced in Malta in 2004 to generate revenue targeted for the implementation of waste management projects. There are four main directives that are implemented in Malta using the extended producer responsibility principle namely: Packaging and Packaging Waste Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Batteries and Accumulators End-of-life vehicles (ELVs)

3 Eco-Contribution Eco-Contribution is paid by producers or importers reflecting the costs of disposing products when these become waste. The amount of Eco-Contribution varies according to the different products depending on the extent to which these products are harmful to the environment. Eco-Contribution is refunded if producers / importers prove that they are taking due care to recover the waste resulting from the product on which the Eco-Contribution is payable.

4 Packaging and Packaging Waste Since 2009 in Malta there are two authorized compliance schemes and a number of self-compliant producers. Producers who can prove that they have recycled the stipulated percentage of packaging waste allocated to them (based on the amount of material they placed on the market) are entitled for an Eco-Contribution refund.

5 Packaging and Packaging Waste Producer recovery scheme operators are responsible for the collection of separately collected recyclable waste from households which include the Bring-In Sites and the door-todoor collection of paper, plastic, metal and glass.

6 Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Producers / importers of EEE are currently paying Eco- Contribution on their products. These are therefore unwilling to cater for their obligations arising from the WEEE Directive as they are claiming that they are being imposed with a double payment regime. Eco-Contribution applicable on WEEE will be removed as of 1 September 2015 to encourage enterprises operating in this field to come in line with the environmental laws regulating the collection of such waste.

7 Batteries and Accumulators Batteries are collected as part of a campaign organised by WasteServ. Producers are still reluctant to setup their private collection systems because of the existing double obligations from the Eco-Contribution and the producer responsibility requirements.

8 Challenges for Malta Implementation of the EPR is constrained by Malta s small island circumstances which limit economies of scale opportunities for the recycling of waste. The financial viability of recycling is largely dependent on the international prices of recyclables. The reliability of the producers declarations of the packaging that they annually put on the market and the amount of recycling undertaken cannot be ascertained since most of the producers who submit declarations to the regulator did not submit documentation issued by a recycling facility substantiating the producers recycling claims.

9 Challenges for Malta Non-compliant producers are not being prodded with any enforcement measures by the regulatory body. The legal link between Eco-Contribution exemptions and packaging waste recycled was only crystallized in While Eco-Contribution refunds are being distributed, the process is quite slow hence causing demotivation amongst producers to reach the targets within the legislation.

10 Way Forward In the 2015 Budget, Government committed to remove Eco- Contribution on WEEE as from September The process is expected to continue in 2016 when Eco- Contribution will be removed on various other products. This measure should encourage producers to comply with their legislative obligations for the achievement of the waste recovery and recycling targets.

11 Thank You