An environmental NGO has proposed revamping the new bottle recycling scheme, including increasing the deposit from 10c to 25c per bottle.

Friends of the Earth Malta’s proposal would see the retail price of beverages increase by a further 15c per bottle, with the NGO arguing that this would increase the return rate of containers.

The NGO also called for the scheme to extend to all beverage containers, including wines, spirits and liqueurs, as well as non-beverages such as vinegars, syrups and plastic containers of washing up liquid and liquid soap.

Although BCRS, the operators of the recycling scheme, has said the 320 machines spread around the island are adequate for the nation, Friends of the Earth said they should be introduced in every locality, or else in schools, local councils or other government premises.

They added that all places with reverse vending machines should also install a recycling bin next to them to ensure that containers brought by consumers that are not eligible for the return scheme will still end up recycled.

Finally, they called for higher fines against businesses that place beverages without barcodes on the market.

“To ensure that the fines are effective, they should be coupled with the number of beverage containers placed on the market and also ensure that more rigorous actions are taken if an offender commits the same criminal offence more than once,” they said.