There were precious mineral resources at the Ghallis site selected as a potential waste site, which should be exploited to create a void into which waste could be dumped, Friends of the Earth (Malta) said.
"It said that the selection of a site for an engineered landfill would be an important strategic decision for Malta and one that must be handled with the utmost care.
"Civil society should be well informed and must be involved in the decision making process. It should not be presented with the fait accompli of a choice between Benghajsa or Ghallis," it said.
The preliminary studies for site selection carried out some years ago, and any other potential sites that have since come to light, should be up for thorough review by those to be entrusted with the `Environment Impact Assessment` of the landfill sites.
The chosen consultants should also have the remit to propose new sites and new options. The site selection exercise should take into account the probable siting of other waste ancillaries that the government is committed to put in place by 2004, including an upgraded composting plant and a material recovery facility, among others.
FoE Malta has submitted its comments on the Project Description Statement for the new landfill to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and pointed out that estimates of waste generated were overstated. FoE Malta also contends that a smaller site was feasible and should be seriously considered.
Having said that, it noted that "all must accept that an engineered landfill would be nothing like the Maghtab dump" and that, provided all the correct measures were in place, the new landfill would be a vast improvement.
"Local councils and other area groups should act responsibly and not wish for other areas what they would not accept themselves. At the same time the public must accept that a landfill is necessary and that is why a careful site selection exercise was of the utmost importance.
FoE Malta`s submissions to the MEPA are available on request from foe@maltanet.net