GRTU accuse Chamber of Commerce of holding grudge

The Chamber of SMEs (GRTU) is at loggerheads with its Republic Street neighbours the Chamber of Commerce after questioning the ethicality of a retroactive permit awarded by MEPA to Green MT, the waste management firm operated by the GRTU. “Never before has there been an administration in the Chamber with such a grudge towards the GRTU,” the GRTU said in a statement, referring to the Chamber’s stand. The GRTU’s waste management scheme was operating without a MEPA permit this year, until it was issued with a retroactive one by the planning and environment authority back in June. Green MT’s chief executive Joe Attard dismissed the matter as a “storm in a teacup” after Labour MP Leo Brincat revealed in parliament that the firm was collecting waste for local councils when it was not even covered by a MEPA permit between January and June 2010. Green MT denied it was operating “illegally”. The company collects recyclable packaging waste on behalf of importers and producers, who would have paid eco-tax on their products, and then collect a refund on the tax. “It is not true that Green MT was favoured by being awarded a retroactive licence as the Chamber has alleged,” the GRTU said. According to the GRTU, its 2009 permit was not renewed due to administrative delays and ‘technical discussions’ between MEPA, Green MT and national waste agency Wasteserv. Green MT managed to collect 6,000 tonnes of packaging waste in the first half of 2010 when it was not covered by a MEPA permit – something Leo Brincat said was in breach of the law – while still entering into agreements with local councils to collect their waste. As minister responsible for MEPA, the Prime Minister said Green MT’s permit was authorised “so that its members’ interests would be protected and so Malta’s obligations [on recycling] would be achieved. In no way was the scheme ‘regularised’ or ‘sanctioned’ for the January-June 2010 period.” Green MT reacted to press reports of its ‘retroactive’ permit saying that MEPA had allowed it in June to “take over the responsibilities of its members for the year 2010” and to provide outstanding reports for its waste collection starting 1 January 2010. Green MT said it had submitted all the reporting and had been certified by Wasteserv to have collected 6,190 tonnes by June 2010, and another 4,411 tonnes by September 2010. “Green MT members have received eco-contribution exemption certificates from the approving body, which means it has recognised the work by the scheme in the first six months of 2010,” CEO Joe Attard said.