It’s official: 1st April launch date of beverage container refund scheme postponed

BCRS Malta Ltd and Circular Economy Malta (the national regulator) on Monday informed the public that the launch date of the Beverage Container Refund Scheme (BCRS) will be postponed from 1^st April 2022 to a later date in 2022 which will be communicated through an upcoming legal notice.

In a joint statement by BCRS Malta Ltd and the regulator, it said the former is currently assisting its stakeholders from the Producers, Importers, Distributors, Retail and HoReCa sectors in their respective onboarding process, ahead of the launch of the scheme.

In this respect, the company will shortly be announcing a number of information sessions aimed specifically at clarifying concerns of operators and assist them with the necessary registration.

The company said that it remains focused on running a technologically driven scheme based on international best practices for the benefit of its stakeholders and the public at large.

Commenting, Edward Chetcuti, CEO of BCRS Malta, said: “We take note of the new launch date that will allow all respective stakeholders to be ready. These include the regulatory authority, to all economic operators in the sector, as well as ourselves.

“The company is investing €17 million in privately funded infrastructure for the collection of single-use beverage containers, making producers and consumers jointly responsible for the recycling of beverage container waste, towards a higher national effort in recycling and litter reduction.

“In addition, we understand this new scheme requires an onboarding effort by all participants, and we will shortly be announcing a number of information sessions specifically organised to continue to assist Producers, Importers, Distributors, Retail and HoReCa (Hotels, Restaurants and Catering Establishments), ahead of the launch of the scheme. Furthermore, BCRS has launched a dedicated business helpline (+356 99099955) so that we ensure that we handhold all participants throughout the whole process ensuring they are fully compliant with the respective legislation at EU and national level. Alternatively, participants may contact BCRS Malta by email on [email protected]”.

Malta is one of the early adopters of the Deposit Refund Schemes in southern Europe; and BCRS Malta Ltd is the licensed operator of Malta’s Beverage Container Refund Scheme.

In November 2021, the company signed an agreement for the supply, installation, and servicing of 330 Reverse Vending Machines which shall receive empty single-use beverage containers from consumers in return for a deposit refund.

The mass roll-out of the RVMs is ongoing in retail outlets and public kiosks across all localities, as determined by a scientific market mapping study identifying the outlets and locations with the highest throughput of beverage containers.

However, BCRS Malta Ltd. wishes to inform that no RVMs will receive containers or return a deposit before the new start date of the scheme which will be announced shortly through an upcoming legal notice.

The new state-of-the-art clearing center in Hal-Far constructed using environmentally friendly materials and construction methods, shall house BCRS Malta’s beverage container sorting plant and will commence operations in line with the start of the scheme.

Commenting, Ing Anthony Rizzo, CEO of Circular Economy Malta said “Producers, Importers, Distributors, Retail and HoReCa (Hotels, Restaurants and Catering Establishments) are legally bound to register with BCRS Malta Limited in accordance with Subsidiary Legislation 549.134 (BEVERAGE CONTAINERS RECYCLING REGULATIONS). Failure to register and thus, regularize by respective operator constitutes a breach as defined by the regulations and as a consequence legal action may be taken by Local Authorities”

Participation in the Scheme, a mandatory requirement by law, can be made online by accessing the Corporate Portal at www.bcrsmalta.mt and selecting one’s business category where one may find several walk-through videos guiding step by step the process of registration.