A plant that stinks

WasteServ thought it fit to reply to Joseph Muscat's comments on the Sant'Antnin recycling plant made during a meeting with the Committee Against the Proposed Recycling Plant (April 15).

As usual, in its reply WasteServ defended the project by stating that the plant is to process 71,000 tons of waste yearly, which amounts to only one third of the waste generated in Malta and Gozo. Furthermore, WasteServ added that the application for funds from EU was based on that premise.

Let me state from the outset that WasteServ is not correct in saying that the application for EU funds was based on a small plant that can treat only 71,000 tons of waste. The application for EU funds was based on a plant capable of processing 200,000 tons, which is the total amount of waste generated in Malta and Gozo. Even the amount of funds granted by the EU, €17 million reflects the cost of a large plant capable of processing 200,000 tons of waste. If the plant could treat only one third of the waste generated in these islands, why is WasteServ spending so much money?

I have no intention to invite WasteServ to refer to the several paragraphs of the report submitted to the EU which confirm in an explicit manner that the application for funds from EU was based on a large plant capable of processing the whole amount of waste generated in Malta and Gozo. I refer solely to what Chris Ciantar had stated in an interview with the MaltaToday (September 11, 2005) which is self explanatory: "Chris Ciantar says he does not blame residents for not trusting the government after the Maghtab experience. However, he would not give in to Marsascala residents' demands for a signed declaration binding the government not to develop Sant'Antnin beyond its 71,000 tons capacity. We cannot bind future generations. But if any such decision is taken in the future, a new application will have to be presented to Mepa." This is an ex admissis statement which makes any comment on this point superfluous.

Mr Muscat was also right in saying that a discrepancy exists in the size of the plant between the application as submitted to Mepa and that submitted to the EU. It is clear from what WasteServ submitted to the EU that the size of the plant must not be smaller than 47,000 square metres while the application submitted to Mepa is for a footprint of 18,000 square metres, or 29,000 square metres less than that required.

But while WasteServ promptly replied to Mr Muscat's comments, it failed, as yet, to respond to the committee's challenges made on several occasions. For ease of reference I am putting forward again some of these challenges to WasteServ.

Is it true that WasteServ intends to construct in the very near future "a waste to energy plant" or, in simple terms, an incineration?

Is it true or not that this plant or incineration is to be built on the Sant'Antnin site?

Is it true or not that apart from a gas storage tank and two chimneys, one with an automatic flare, three huge digestion tanks will also be constructed at Sant'Antnin?

Do WasteServ confirm that about 6,000 tons of methane gas are to be produced annually at Sant'Antnin?

These are some of the important facts that residents of Marsascala, Zejtun, Zabbar and other localities in the vicinity demand to know from WasteServ.

WasteServ policy has always been that of not letting the public, especially the residents concerned, to focus on the important issue of the problem. Because WasteServ knows the most important issue in this matter is not a matter of tons. It is how the whole exercise leading to the chosen site to accommodate the plant was conducted - a process considered by many as a complete farce. Others called it "a disastrous exercise". A study based on biased and incomplete reports. A flawed and vitiated report that brings shame on those involved in it and especially on Mepa that approved it.

When all the facts would be known and documents revealed, everybody will be shocked as to the way things are being done. Mepa would not only lose its remaining credibility but will also be seen as a regulator adopting two weights and two measures on such matters.

This is a plant that really stinks!