Chamber welcomes long-overdue payments of eco-contribution refunds

The Chamber of Commerce has welcomed news Greenpak member companies have started to receive  waste recycling management refunds for the 2006-2008 period.

The refunds became necessary because companies were obliged to pay both eco-contribution and fees to waste management schemes between 2006 and 2010, subjected to a dual payment.

"We're satisfied that this long lasting matter is finally being tackled by the authorities for the resulting injustice to be finally rectified," Chamber director Kevin Borg said.

The Malta Chamber was at the forefront of the matter right from the start, saying that companies which were compliant with their legal obligations during that period were being discriminated against.  Given that the pertinent regulations were not adequately enforced, this situation created an unlevel playing field for compliant operators.

Since 2006, the Malta Chamber always stressed the importance for companies to join authorised waste management schemes in line with their legal obligations. "After all these years and long discussions, the authorities have heeded the advice of the business community and are finally disbursing the refunds that are rightfully due," Borg said.

"The Malta Chamber is now hopeful to see that the refunds due for the years of 2009 and 2010 will also be granted within the shortest time possible."