Beverage Container Refund Scheme to finally commence in April 2022, as deal signed with machine supplier

Malta's long delayed Beverage Container Refund Scheme (BCRS) looks set to launch in April 2022, after the local licensed operator of the scheme, BCRS Ltd, has signed an agreement with Envipco for the supply, installation and servicing of the Reverse Vending Machines (RVM) facilitating the service.

The agreement, announced on Thursday, has already seen the first RVM arrive in Malta, while more machines will be deployed across the Maltese islands "early next year", allowing the scheme to commence at the start of April next year.

Commenting ahead of the signing of the agreement, BCRS Malta chairperson Pierre Fava noted how the signing was an important milestone for the country as it seeks to protect the environment in the battle against climate change. 

The contract is expected to provide initially for the installation of around 300 RVMs across Malta and Gozo.

As part of extended producer responsibility (ERP) obligations, which requires producers to collect back the containers they put into the market, BCRS will attempt to address Malta’s perceived waste management failures.

As part of the scheme, there will be a 10¢ markup on every bottle of beverage purchased. However, this will be returned in full when the purchaser returns the bottle to one of the bottle collection machines.

The scheme was initially set to launch at the end of 2020, however, as reported by The Malta Independent, it was then delayed to 2021, with Environment Minister Aaron Farrugia citing “certain administrative ECO Contributions issues relating to tax and delayed payments”.

At the time, the scheme was expected to recuperate 90 per cent of beverage containers, which will help Malta reach its international recycling targets.