Intent and Objectives: Guidelines for Catering Establishments on Different Alternatives to Food Containers and Cups for Beverages

CONSULTATION BRIEF

Start date: 08 July 2024

Closing date: 29 July 2024

Title of the public consultation: Intent and Objectives: Guidelines for Catering Establishments on Different Alternatives to Food Containers and Cups for Beverages

Ministry: Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Regeneration of the Grand Harbour (MEER)

Entity: Environment and Resources Authority (ERA)

 

  1. Background

Malta gives importance to the fight against plastic waste and marine litter. In 2021, the country banned various single-use plastic items including cutlery and food and beverage containers and cups made of expanded polystyrene (jablo). To further decrease the consumption of single-use plastic food containers and drinking cups and promote the use of reusable alternatives, ERA plans to put forward a set of guidelines to help catering establishments adopt measures, in line with the EU Single-Use Plastic Directive.

 

  1. Consultation

Intent and Objectives

The Authority will publish guidelines for catering establishments to provide guidance on different alternatives for food containers and cups for beverages that leave the least impact on the environment. The document will help such establishments to:

    1. Choose the best single-use non plastic alternatives, and
    2. Design the most-effective reusable systems taking into account the following:
        • The characteristics of the Maltese waste management system;
        • The environmental impact of the alternatives chosen;
        • The overall economic balance of catering establishments;
        • The local councils’ safety measures concerning alcohol consumption in glass containers in public spaces;
        • The safety of reusable systems in a public health crisis/ pandemic; and
        • Other relevant legal obligations that would in any way affect the use of reusable food containers and cups for beverages.

 

  1. Submission of feedback

Comments are being invited through the feedback form at publicconsultation.gov.mt or otherwise by email through [email protected].

 

  1. Further notes

Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the end of the public consultation, unless the contributor objects to the publication of his/her personal data. In this case, the contribution may be published in anonymous form.

All comments submitted shall be duly considered.

The draft Guidelines will be available for public consultation in due course.