Harry Vassallo' s article Bursting Bubbles (October 21) referred to the government's proposal to upgrade the existing Sant'Antnin recycling plant. Dr Vassallo stated that the Greens are against "a political decision to install the plant at Sant'Antnin". Before he does this, he goes on to talk about how important recycling is and that the Greens "never opposed the development of a recycling plant".

Mesmerising, to say the least! Doesn't Dr Vassallo know that at Sant'Antnin in Marsascala a recycling plant already exists? Has he not consulted his own party manifesto to reassure himself that his party advocated an upgrade of this same plant to sustain a nationwide recycling initiative? With all this confusion, no wonder Dr Vassallo finds it hard to sell anything, even "soap".

He points an accusing finger at the government and says that "the site selection process was a sham". Earlier he goes on to say that his Greens "participated wholeheartedly in the consultation on the preparation of the Solid Waste Management Strategy". Allow me to quote from page 68 of this same strategy about which Dr Vassallo acclaims himself for contributing fully:

"Upgrading of the Sant'Antnin Composting Plant (D10).

"Despite the historical problems of the Sant'Antnin composting plant, this facility represents a significant sunk investment and potentially valuable asset. Much of the existing infrastructure and equipment is in reasonably good condition and could form the basis of an integrated waste treatment complex for the recovery and recycling of municipal, commercial and industrial non-hazardous wastes. The site should, with further capital investment, be able to accommodate a combination of enclosed treatment processes without giving rise to the kind of environmental problems experienced in the past.

"The government therefore intends to modify and upgrade the plant at Sant'Antnin for the purposes of:

¤ "Receiving and processing a larger volume of (source segregated and separately collected) organic wastes generated in Malta and Gozo and producing high quality compost product(s) for local use.

¤ "Receiving, sorting and processing a larger volume of (source segregated and separately collected) dry recyclable materials generated in Malta and Gozo for local use and/or export.

¤ "Receiving and processing a large proportion of the volume of sludge resulting from future treatment processes, in Malta and Gozo, of sewage by the three intended sewage treatment plants."

This is the same text Dr Vassallo pompously boasts of having contributed to in formulating. This goes on to say that, back then, he had every opportunity to comment on or object to the upgrading of Sant'Antnin plant. This states fairly and squarely that the site at Marsascala, and no other, should be upgraded.

Most probably, in 2001 Dr Vassallo did not expect to go to Mepa to apply for an upgrading of his front garden and, in return, be asked to find an alternative house before a permit for his upgrading be issued. Sadly, when it comes to waste management, this is the philosophy he is advocating now!

In contrast, when the strategy refers to the landfill facility, the document states that "this facility will be determined following a systematic site search, evaluation and selection process". Couldn't Dr Vassallo have the decency to recommend this for Sant'Antnin too when the strategy was being finalised in 2001? Why is he recommending it now, four years after the strategy's implementation? If this is not political opportunism, then what is?

Despite the desperate tackles to undermine progress, particularly from the Greens, my government is confident that the unfolding plans to revamp waste management in Malta are in the country's best interest. In the same way that the Malta Labour Party has expressed its favoured opinion on the Sant'Antnin proposals, I am confident the people of Malta too understand the need to modernise existing facilities while at the same time continue searching for potential sites for new facilities to be developed.

I sincerely augur that the Maltese society breaks away from partisan political undermining, understands that the investment targeted for this emotive subject is in its very best interest and gets behind a much desired solution that for the past four years has been documented in the Solid Waste Management Strategy. Such support is indispensable if change is what we desire.

Mr Pullicino is Minister of Rural Affairs and the Environment.