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News from Malta: Greenwashing – BCRS portrayed as an economic and environmental scam
13 Nov 2022The new Beverage Packaging Return Scheme (BCRS) announced in its statement that it has reached one million marked returnable bottles. However, it seems that the same number of complaints were received during the one-week period when the program was launched. The plan has been the focus of controversy since it was put forward; While its introduction in November has been welcomed by some, a growing number of people are calling the program a greenwash and economic and environmental scam that forces people to pay a 10-cent tax on every drink.
A fee of 10 cents is charged for each drink, which is passed on to the consumer. After consuming the beverage, the used plastic packaging, if in suitable condition, is taken to BCRS's Reverse Vending Machines and consumers receive a 10-cent coupon, redeemable under certain conditions, in place of the 10 cents they paid for. However, most of the machines are occupied or complicated to use. This has been criticized by critics as the BCRS system is designed to discourage public participation.
The program's one million bottles per week figure is based on reimbursements in the form of vouchers. But operators' real concern may be the millions of unreturned bottles. Critics of the plan argue that 10 cents per package would go back into the pockets of manufacturers and importers due to consumers not returning bottles. Additionally, as no local recycling facility is involved in the programme, returned bottles are allegedly either shipped to unknown destinations or disposed of in landfills outside Malta.
There are also claims that the system is deliberately difficult. Although BCRS announced in its November 14 statement that it planned to install additional machines to its 320 Reverse Vending Machines, the figures presented in parliament showed a total of 274 machines. Consumers complain about the scarcity and complexity of use of the machines. Coupons can only be deducted from the invoice at certain stores and cannot be received as cash, making the process more troublesome.
If the coupons are purchased from a supermarket machine, they can only be used at the sales points of that chain. Many people do not bother to participate in the system and simply throw away their plastic drink containers as before. Although there are people on social media collecting bottles from residential garbage bags, the machines do not accept the bottles unless they are perfectly preserved. "The beverage container should be returned empty and in good condition, with a solid shape and a readable bar code, ideally with the lid open," BCRS warns.
The history of the plan dates back to 2017. The bottle return system was first announced in parliament by the then Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, and it was promised that 70% of the bottles in Malta would be recycled by 2019. The system was designed by Malcolm Scerri, a business partner of former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri.
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