4 - 10 October 2001

Lm70m to implement solid waste management strategy

• Lm18 invested in first 30 months
• Maghtab to be closed by 2004

by Michael Carabott

The Solid Waste Management Strategy, approved by Cabinet, will cost an estimated Lm70m.
Presenting the final document, Environment Minister Dr Francis Zammit Dimech said the first phase will require an Lm18m investment over the next 30 months. This will be used “to upgrade existing facilities”. The remainder, Lm52m, will be invested over the next 20 years, he added.
Dr Zammit Dimech said that apart from the Lm70m capital outlay, the government estimates that a further Lm8m per year would be required as a recurrent annual expenditure.
“This is expected to be incremen-ted by around Lm700,000 per year until it is stabilised at Lm13.3m in 2023,” Dr Zammit Dimech said.
He said there were 56 measures to be taken by government in order to fully implement the strategy by 2006.
A revised plan was presented to cabinet and was approved on Monday.
The minister said Maghtab will be closed for good by 2004 and one option the government has is to use construction debris to reclaim land from the sea.
“We have not decided exactly what will be done at the Maghtab site, but government has received proposals from companies abroad and in Malta for land reclamation.”
He said this was known as: “The Maghtab Mining Option.” It was one of many possibilities including landscaping, creation of parks and many other such things, but government was keeping its options open at this stage.
A Task Force or a Project Team will be set up to work with a Steering Committee in the near future to implement the strategy, the minister said. The Task Force would be made up of Environment Department officials. He said the strategy stipulates that construction rubble and domestic and industrial waste will not be dumped together as of end 2005.
Dr Zammit Dimech said that waste meant unnecessary depletion of natural resources, unnecessary costs and environmental damage that could be avoided.
Malta produces around 1.5 million tons of waste annually and the quantities are on the increase. Most of the material is dumped at Maghtab and at Qortin in Gozo. Dr Zammit Dimech admitted that the situation was unsustainable and this is why the strategy was drawn up.
Moving towards sustainable waste management will mean major changes over the next 20 years. The strategy aims to discourage people from producing so much waste and to change the way waste is dealt with once produced.
Dr Zammit Dimech said the implementation of the strategy was a must irrespective of whether or not Malta joined the European Union. How-ever, it was drawn up within the framework of EU legislation.
The overall goals of the strategy include: An integrated approach to waste management; Reduction in the quantity and hazard threat of waste; Increased recycling and composting; Further development in energy recovery technologies; safe disposal of unmanageable residues; greater public participation in the decision making process.
The largest amount of waste produced in Malta comes from construction debris – 1,198,634 tons. This was an increase of 15.26 per cent on 1997 when 744,210 tons were produced.
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) increased by 12 per cent over four years and now stands at an annual
figure of 156,432 tons. A total of 139,000 tons of industrial waste are dumped every year.
Tackling the growth of waste is a major concern because each household produces on average 1.3 tons of waste per year.
The report states that if Maltese waste practices continue at the same rate, almost twice as many waste management facilities will be needed by 2010.
It was also pointed out that waste can also be a resource. Technologies exist whereby waste can be treated and turned into energy or other useful materials.

Landfills
Present landfill practices are more or less unchecked, all waste whether deemed hazardous or not is dumped at landfill sites. Government definitely made one commitment, to close and rehabilitate the current landfills at Maghtab and Qortin by the end of 2004.
The report states that in 2003, government would have construc-ted properly sectioned and cordoned off landfill sites. No specific locations have been revealed so far. There are plans for three major landfills. The first two are expec-ted to be one large site split into two distinct sections – one for non-hazardous municipal waste which cannot be recovered and the other for hazardous or untreatable municipal waste.
The third, which could be on a totally separate site, could be used for inert materials. When the sites are established and eventually constructed, the two existing landfills would be closed down.
Dr Zammit Dimech said that as soon as all existing landfills are closed, including minor ones, the areas would be rehabilitated and turned into parks.
Although Gozo would also have a non-hazardous waste landfill dump, a waste transfer station will be established to transfer non-inert waste generated to the new sites in Malta. The waste would be sealed and held in containers until eventual recovery, treatment or final disposal. Apart from the closure and rehabilitation of the landfill sites, other measures stipulate that bio-hazard waste (abattoir, medical and chemical wastes) must be treated or reclaimed before final disposal.
By 2003, all slaughterhouse and hospital waste must be treated before being taken to the new landfill. Dr Zammit Dimech said there were considerable quantities off hazardous waste such as spent batteries, oils, materials with asbestos content in storage. He said government aimed to have the appropriate facilities to treat or destroy such materials by 2004.
Other measures include banning of dumping tyres as well as nickel and copper grit. Not directly related to landfills, government plans that by 2004 dumping of sewage sludge at sea would be stopped by utilising new and existing composting plants or thermal treatment facilities.
Dr Zammit Dimech also said that plans were underway to have all incinerators shut down.
“The only way to implement the strategy to create a cleaner and safer environment is for all to do our bit and pitch in by being conscious of the problem and doing something to solve it,” he said. Dr Zammit Dimech said that although the strategy itself would reduce many different types of waste, the public’s support and co-operation was also needed.