22 December 2022
Two Government entities have come together to offer support to help companies operating quarries to crush construction waste with the aim to facilitate the recycling of such waste and increase the density of the backfilled material, so that more waste may be deposited due to better compaction while leading to the restoration of void spaces with higher environmental standards.
While Malta Enterprise shall be offering fiscal support to such companies on the acquisition of machinery, ERA shall be offering a grant on the volume of space that shall be restored.
ERA’s grant on restoration of void spaces
ERA’s scheme which shall be awarded as a cash grant is intended to incentivise quarry owners and operators to crush inert excavation, construction and demolition waste before it is used for the restoration of void spaces. The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) has committed €350,000 from its Environment fund to this scheme which is intended for the Restoration of Void Spaces with Crushed Inert Excavation, Construction and Demolition Waste (ROVS).
The ROVS funds will be allocated over a maximum period of 5 years with the aim of incentivising the crushing of excavation waste as well as construction and demolition waste prior to it being used as backfill material in void spaces. Crushing of this material would increase the density of the backfilled material, thereby increasing the capacity of the void space in that more waste may be deposited due to better compaction, leading to restoration of void spaces with higher environmental standards.
Eligible Quarry operators and owners can submit the completed application to ERA by the end of June 2023. Applications will be evaluated by an evaluation committee on a first-come-first-served basis. Upon the necessary verification by the Authority, beneficiaries will enter into a grant agreement with the Authority and will receive yearly payments with an overall capping of €50,00 per successful applicant.
Malta Enterprise quarry industry tax-credit scheme
Meanwhile Malta Enterprise’s scheme shall provide fiscal support (tax credits) to eligible companies on the purchase of crushers, dust suppression equipment and the replacement of old construction equipment related to crushing operations. The scheme falls under the de minimis Regulation. The maximum support that can be awarded shall cover 50% of the eligible expenditure up to a maximum €100,000 per project and must be utilised over a period of five 5 years.
Projects are to start after approval by the Corporation. Malta Enterprise applications may be received until November 2023 unless budget is used up before.  Applications should include full details and costs to be incurred including a quotation from the supplier from whom the new equipment will be purchased.
This incentive is aimed at registered limited liability companies engaged in construction activities, including the processing and disposal of construction waste. Partnerships or self-employed operating in the said field may also be eligible.
Application process
The scheme guidelines and respective application form for the Malta Enterprise ‘Support for Reducing the environmental impact of Construction activities’ scheme will be available in the coming weeks.
Applications for the ERA ‘Restoration of Void Spaces with Crushed Inert Excavation, Construction and Demolition Waste’ (ROVS) scheme will be available on the following link from the era website.
