New waste plant expected to be ready in nine months

WasteServ has presented a full development application to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority for work to start on the controversial upgrading of the Sant'Antnin waste recycling plant.

Received by the authority on July 24, the application was published last Saturday. Stakeholders have up to August 27 to submit their representations.

The project is being financed mainly through EU cohesion funds. The plant will process a third of waste produced in Malta and Gozo.

WasteServ chief executive officer Vince Magri yesterday said the work should be ready within nine months from starting. He pointed out that parts of the existing plant would need to stop operating while work is underway.

The proposed plant has been heavily opposed, especially by the Committee Against The Proposed Recycling Plant, which represents nine local councils and a number of Marsascala organisations. A few years ago WasteServ had submitted an outline development application, which was approved almost unanimously by Mepa last September.

In an outline application, the authority takes a decision on the concept of the project, sometimes giving guidelines and laying down certain conditions. Works can only start once a full development application is approved.

Mr Magri said the outline application had given an overview of what the plant would consist of, giving space for consultation.

"We now know what the public wants and have changed the call for tenders for the procurement of equipment according to the demands and concerns raised."

Mr Magri explained that the contract for the works included a number of clauses binding the contractor to avoid any risks. The call for tenders was issued toward the end of last year.

One of the concerns being raised by the committee is the danger posed by the methane gas produced by the plant. When contacted, committee secretary Joe Sant claimed that the gas was highly explosive.

However, Mr Magri said the gas produced would be used immediately, not stored. He explained that a flare - costing €1 million - would burn up the gas in case of a fault.

Questioned about the smell, which is also worrying residents, Mr Magri said this would be reduced significantly from the present levels since more advanced technology would be used at the plant.

Mr Sant expressed the committee's surprise at learning that WasteServ had submitted a full development application since it was still appealing against the approval of the outline application. He said the committee was currently preparing its objections to the application and did not exclude taking legal action.