The letter Lateral Expansion (November 18) is based on a false premise. It must be pointed out that the photograph that was published with the same letter is misleading. The photograph shows trucks reshifting inert material within the site itself which is a necessary part of the rehabilitation process of the closed Maghtab dump.
The government reiterates and reaffirms that the uncontrolled Maghtab dump is closed and has been thus since the end of last April. This was the government's commitment and this promise has been delivered. The same can be said of the Qortin dump and waste generated in Gozo is now being transferred to the Ta' Zwejra facility in Malta.
As highlighted several times by WasteServ, works and activities at Maghtab and Qortin dumps will still be ongoing as part of the rehabilitation process. In envisaging comments such as those made by Mr Ripard, during the press conference announcing the closure of the Maghtab dump, Minister George Pullicino had actually remarked that the rehabilitation process would eventually mean a temporary increase in activity related to the shifting of inert material inside the dump.
This rehabilitation project aims to re-contour the material for stability and access, to collect the aerial emissions emanating from the site, to ease the internal combustion and to implement an environmental monitoring and control regime on site. These works may only progress because the Maghtab dump no longer receives refuse from the 68 localities over Malta nor does it receive any of the 400 trucks of inert waste daily.
Mr Ripard should also take note of the fact that capital funding for the rehabilitation of Maghtab, Qortin and Wied Fulija has now been secured and the prior information notice (PIN) of the aerial emissions control project for the former dumps is currently published in the EU Journal.
This notice alerts potential bidders of the works to be incorporated. A contract, worth €8.4 million and funded through the EU Structural Funds is scheduled to be awarded during the third quarter of 2005. This aerial emissions control project is the first phase of the gradual rehabilitation of the dumps.
The Ta' Zwejra facility, although developed in a site adjacent to the former dump, is a controlled engineered facility built in conformity with European directives. The facility is equipped with five layers of protection including a 500mm-thick foundation layer, a 2mm-thick textured membrane and a leachate (toxic liquids) drainage system. In an effort to collect the gases and control emissions and odours, the facility will be using the common gas extraction compound soon to be used for the Maghtab dump rehabilitation.
As has been repeatedly proved over the past months, it is not this administration's intention to try to fool people or, to put it in the correspondent's own words, "to try to put wool over the people's eyes". It would take quite an effort to try and make trucks disappear while driving through the Maghtab waste mount as part of the necessary rehabilitation works that have to be carried out.
Moreover, by living in the vicinity of the old Maghtab dump, Mr Ripard should know first-hand that progress has been registered. This improvement includes the elimination of burning fires on the surface of the waste mount, with its resultant negative effects. The elimination of surface fires has been brought about due to the fact that no waste, except for some inert waste due to the re-contouring process, is being deposited in the old Maghtab dump.
The government, through its waste management agency, WasteServ, will continue doing its utmost to deliver a lasting solution to the Maghtab residents while also providing sustainable waste management facilities for all of Malta and Gozo.
Waste remains an emotive subject. Potential solutions are either delayed or turned down while planning processes need to be followed meticulously to ensure all potential impacts are mitigated to a minimum in order to provide the greatest benefits to human health and the environment.