CONSULTATION BRIEF

Start date: 13 June 2025

Closing date: 25 July 2025

Title of the public consultation: Public Consultation: Guidelines for catering establishments on different alternatives to food containers and cups for beverages

Ministry: Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness (MEEC)

 Entity: Environment and Resources Authority (ERA)

 

1. Background

As part of Malta’s efforts to fight plastic waste and marine litter, in 2021, Malta banned various single-use plastic items including cutlery and food and beverage containers and cups made of expanded polystyrene (jablo) amongst other single-use plastic products. To further decrease the use of single-use plastic food containers and drinking cups and promote the use of reusable alternatives, consumption reduction measures were included in the national Single Use Plastics Framework Regulations (S.L. 549.149). To this end, the ERA has drafted a set of guidelines to help catering establishments offering food and beverages including cafes, restaurants, and food trucks, with the adoption of measures to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic food containers and drinking cups.

 

2. Consultation

ERA is publishing for consultation draft guidelines for catering establishments to provide guidance on different alternatives for food containers and cups for beverages with the least impact on the environment. The document will help such establishments to:

1. 1. Choose the better single-use non plastic alternatives, and
   2. Design effective reusable systems taking into account the:

• • • characteristics of the Maltese waste management system;
    • environmental impact of the alternatives chosen;
    • overall economic benefit of catering establishments;
    • safety measures concerning alcohol consumption in glass containers in public spaces;
    • safety of reusable systems in a public health crisis/ pandemic; and
    • relevant legal obligations that would in any way affect the use of reusable food containers and cups for beverages.

 

3. Documents

Guidelines for catering establishments on different alternatives to food containers and cups for beverages

Report on comments submitted during Intent and Objectives stage

 

4. Submission of feedback

Comments are being invited through the feedback form at publicconsultation.gov.mt or otherwise by email through [email protected] by 25 July 2025.

 

5. 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.