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MALTATODAY 20 December 2020

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12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 DECEMBER 2020 NEWS 'Pay-as-you-throw'... businesses must pick tab for waste collection JAMES DEBONO MALTESE businesses that are large generators of packaging and domestic waste are getting a free ride on the municipal waste collection system. Now they will have to start paying a service charge included in the price of waste bags. This is one of the major changes envisaged in a long- term waste management plan spearheaded by the environ- ment ministry. The 'pay as you throw' (PAYT) system for commercial establishments will come into force by 2023 (note: after the next general election of 2022), and will be based on a charge that is paid whenever people buy their waste bags. To avoid any hardship on low-income families, free bags will be given to all households by the State. The system, which will im- pose a higher cost on black bags, will ensure that business- es that embark upon separa- tion at source will bear a lower cost of waste management than those who are more careless. Waste bags can be currently purchased at any retail outlet with their price solely reflect- ing the cost of its production and importation. In the new system, the price will also in- clude "a pre-payment for its collection or disposal". The volume of the waste bag and the type of waste it should contain, will determine the price of each bag. Rates for different bags will be differen- tiated, to incentivize the sepa- ration of waste. While the service charge paid on all bags will be appli- cable to both businesses and households, a set amount of black waste bags for mixed and white waste bags for organic waste will be provided for free to residents. The households and their size will be identified through the ARMS database, which classifies buildings ac- cording to their current use. The decision to provide free bags to households reflects gov- ernment's choice not to impose waste charges on households, to avoid imposing a burden on low-income households. The new eco-tax will be preceded by the imposition of a mandatory and enforce- able waste separation system in 2022, which will criminal- ize failure to separate organic waste at source. Additionally, waste bags will be standardized with see- through material that will ena- ble swifter enforcement action for those monitoring waste separation. In order to facilitate the tran- sition to the new waste regime, additional free Saturday and Sunday collections of organic waste will be organised in tour- ism zones. The amount of waste gener- ated by commercial establish- Waste-collection bag prices will increase to ref lect cost of trash collection, but households will get free bags "The harsh reality is that bad waste practices have led to the landfilling of waste that could have been avoided. Our landfill footprint clearly depicts the cost of drawn-out action, which we can no longer afford if we want to avoid the pain of further land take-up."

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