Locate recycling plants away from residents, Sant insists

Labour leader Alfred Sant yesterday declared his strong opposition to the proposed extension of the Sant' Antnin waste recycling plant in Marsascala, saying he would resist it in Parliament and in every way possible.

On a walkabout round Marsascala, accompanied by Labour MPs, mayors of the surrounding localities and numerous supporters, Dr Sant said the party was "four-square" behind the residents.

He insisted that the waste management plants should be built on a regional basis and away from residents so as not to threaten their health or livelihood.

In the past week there has been a great furore over the extension of the plant and a public meeting turned into a shouting match with Environment Minister George Pullicino having to walk out under police escort after failing to get his message across the loud booing.

Emotions are running high among residents and many thronged behind Dr Sant yesterday morning to voice their concern.

Halfway through the short walk, Dr Sant stopped to talk to the members of the non-political organisation Moviment Favur il-Harsien Wied tal-Maghluq to listen to what they had to say on the matter.

Steve Borg, speaking on behalf of the movement promoting the protection of Wied tal-Maghluq valley, said they were in favour of recycling but not at the expense of the public's health.

Mr Borg showed Dr Sant a copy of the report by chemicals expert Alfred Vella, commissioned by the local council and released in December, which highlighted the possibility of an explosion should the wrong material or incorrect ration be thrown into the proposed plants.

"Unfortunately, we cannot say that Malta has a good track record, so it's hard to trust the government and believe everything will run smoothly with the new plant," he explained.

Speaking at the end of the walkabout, Dr Sant reiterated the party's stand against the proposed upgrading of the Sant' Antnin plant.

He said that when the debate had erupted on the smells emitting from the plant, then (Labour) Environment Minister George Vella had worked to resolve the situation and had done so swiftly. "We had a clear policy. Now we have reports that smells are still coming out of the plant."

Dr Sant questioned why the Nationalist Party MPs of the locality had not come out to support the residents, citing as an example the role of Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando had played in fighting against the proposed interim engineered landfill close to Mnajdra and Hagar Qim. "Why isn't this happening here?" he asked.

Labour Deputy leader Charles Mangion called on those present to work together towards a common goal.