Landfills rehabilitation expected to start next month

WasteServ yesterday announced the signing of a contract for the rehabilitation of the island's three closed landfills, which has been awarded to the German company JV Haase and Vassallo Group.

The job involves the control of aerial emissions and the initial rehabilitation of the three formerly uncontrolled landfill sites in Maghtab, Wied Fulija and Qortin, Gozo.

The contact sets August 14 as the date when work is expected to start, WasteServ chief executive Vince Magri said.

WasteServ had obtained €8.4 million from the European Regional and Development Fund for the financing of this project.

The contract of €600,000 for the engineer who will supervise the project has been awarded to Scott Wilson plc of the UK.

The latest technologies will be introduced to minimise odours and treat any harmful components in the gas emanating from the internal combustion within the mass waste materials.

The project seeks to raise the environmental standards associated with past practices of waste management in Malta, in line with the Solid Waste Management Strategy for the Maltese Islands (October 2001) and contribute towards the reduction of carbon emissions.

Mr Magri said that in the past months intensive work had been underway at Maghtab to recontour the surface area and shift the material, before it can be rehabilitated.

"An extensive environmental monitoring scheme will be conducted at the same time as construction works, in order to identify and rectify any problems at an early stage," he said.

"In addition, the engineer shall be contributing to improve the temporary adverse impacts caused by the intensive activities in the construction of the control system on the surrounding environment, the site workers and nearby residents."