Alleviating recycling pains

With reference to the letter "Recycling pains" (The Sunday Times, April 17) WasteServ Malta Ltd would like to clarify various misunderstandings.

At present, the only facility where WasteServ can accept recyclable waste, including electronic material, is the Sant'Antnin waste treatment plant. WasteServ is well aware that this is not convenient for the public and is therefore working to provide civic amenity facilities (recycling centres) in various localities around Malta and Gozo where householders can take recyclable material.

By the end of 2006 Malta will have five recycling centres around Malta and Gozo to be able to meet requests like those made by Mr Agius. This project, funded by EU structural funds, will ensure that the Maltese Islands are provided with the best service possible and that all necessary requirements are satisfied.

Civic amenity sites or recycling centres are supervised facilities where members of the public can bring and discard a variety of household waste in separate containers. The wastes delivered to this facility will consist mainly of bulky waste namely, tyres, refrigerators and other white goods, electronic products, waste from DIY goods, old paints and garden waste.

It is in everyone's interest that these waste streams are collected separately instead of being disposed of randomly in any skip. Contrary to what is stated in the letter, WasteServ does not consider the disposal of any type of waste as "unusual" and is therefore introducing new waste management sites in order to facilitate the disposal of waste for householders.