Stormy Marsacala meeting on waste recycling plant

Mayhem reigned at a public meeting on the extension of the Sant'Antnin waste recycling plant in Marsascala yesterday as residents hurled abuse at Environment Minister George Pullicino who tried to allay their fears and clarify the situation.

His words fell on deaf ears because the residents said they had had enough of being hoodwinked by politicians into believing that the new plant would operate smoothly, when right up to a few days ago smells were emanating from the plant.

Emotions ran high at the consultation meeting as residents voiced their grave concerns on the impact that the extended plant would have, and was already having, on their health, their businesses and the value of their property.

The meeting was led by Marsascala mayor Charlot Mifsud and attended by Mr Pullicino, as well as officials from WasteServ and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA).

Hundreds of residents of Marsascala, Zabbar and Zejtun crammed into the tent erected on the grounds of the Grabiel Restaurant and occasionally chanted: "We don't want the plant here".

They pleaded with the MEPA officials present to intervene and protect them against politicians who were steamrollering through with their decision.

The furore erupted over a decision to upgrade the existing plant in Sant'Antnin so that municipal solid waste may be properly processed to make compost.

The European Commission has allocated €16.7 million for the plant, which has been designed in such a way that it should not occupy a larger area than the plant's present footprint.

The plant, situated close to the Prime Minister's residence, would also be geared to generate enough electricity to supply 1,400 households a year.

The six-week consultation process, as established by law on the proposed plans, has closed, but Mr Pullicino said that as a sign of the government's readiness to listen to the residents' concerns he had attended the meeting.

He patiently tried to explain, despite the constant loud booing, that of the 240,000 tonnes of waste generated each year, Sant'Antnin would start receiving 35,000 tonnes of organic waste and 36,000 tonnes of dry waste collected from the bring-in sites, such as glass, metal, paper, and plastic. Presently Sant'Antnin receives 30,000 tonnes of waste a year.

However, residents said this was untrue because the plant was being built in a way that it could take in over 200,000 tonnes of waste. If what the minister was saying was correct, where was the remaining waste going?

Mr Pullicino replied that MEPA had asked for the worst case scenario, and he insisted that just about 70,000 tonnes of waste would enter Sant'Antnin. The country needed similar facilities across Malta and Gozo to manage waste.

"I understand your fears, but from the reports and documents I have seen and read I have been assured that the impact will be minimal," he said, as the residents yelled out their complaints and police tried to calm them down.

Mr Pullicino shrugged off the protests and said that the problem of waste management could not be swept under the carpet and the problems had to be addressed.

"We have already told the local council that once this plant starts operating we are willing to have a councillor nominated on a surveillance committee to ensure things are running smoothly," he added.

During the interventions, Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Harry Vassallo accused the government of exploiting the public and imposing a plant they did not want.

"The plant, the way you are proposing it should operate, will not happen," he said to loud applause.

Labour MEP Joseph Muscat also intervened and said that if the public was unhappy with the final decision then they should start collecting thousands of signatures, which he would personally present to the EU.

"If this decision is being rushed so Malta will not miss out on EU funds, then this money should be frozen until an agreeable solution is found," he said.

During the meeting there was a heated exchange between former environment minister George Vella and Mr Pullicino over an article published in The Times on August 15, 1998.

In this article Dr Vella was quoted as saying that following the recommendations of a British company, commissioned to determine the hazardous and toxic waste generated in Malta, the then Labour government was hoping to eventually recycle all the household waste at the Sant'Antnin plant.

However, Dr Vella called on Mr Pullicino to produce a public document, which verified this article or else resign. Mr Pullicino rebutted by saying Dr Vella had never issued a correction at the time.

During the meeting the residents passed an impromptu motion, which said that those gathered there yesterday were calling on the government to reconsider its position and proposed that Marsascala should hold a referendum for residents.

All the Marsascala councillors were pushed to publicly state their stand on the recycling plant - the three Labour councillors and the mayor were totally against the plant remaining in Marsascala, while the two Nationalist councillors present said the matter should be discussed within the local council. A third PN councillor was not present.

By noon, the meeting had degenerated so badly that Mr Pullicino, who was already running late for an 11.30 a.m. meeting, got up and left after several failed attempts to get his message across the loud jeering audience. He was under heavy police escort.

Mr Abela said that the council, coupled with the action committee and other interested parties, will decide what further action to take on the matter.

The PN councillors at Marsascala in a prior statement said it was shameful that for political ends there were some who were spreading misinformation at Marsascala about the waste recycling plant.

They referred to a notice sent to all residents by the local council about yesterday's meeting, saying the council had never adopted an official position calling for the removal of the plant, although that was what the notice was calling for.

The councillors said it was not true that all domestic waste would end up at the plant. They said they would continue to participate in all areas to ensure that the residents remained well informed of all proposals that were made with regard to waste management.