This week, WasteServ is expected to submit an Integrated Pollution Prevention Control application with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority for the operation of a modern facility to treat abattoir, clinical and industrial waste, Government sources told The Sunday Times.
This facility, which like any other waste management infrastructure will have to be set up according to all the relevant environmental and planning obligations, meets all the emission standards set by the European Union, the sources say. If this application is approved, the facility at the Civil Abattoir would be permitted to treat abattoir waste as it was originally designed for, as well as special waste which includes clinical and other hazardous waste. This will not only reduce operational costs for the government, but will also provide an alternative to the incinerator at St Luke's Hospital, which will be shut down. This will also eliminate the need for an incinerator at the new Mater Dei Hospital, the sources added.
The abattoir incinerator is already covered by a development permit. The IPPC application governs the plant's operations. The extended use of the plant does not involve any changes in land use.
The Solid Waste Management Strategy 2001 obliges WasteServ to establish a special/difficult waste incinerator to meet Malta's requirements for the treatment of special waste streams that cannot be treated otherwise. In addition to abattoir waste, the plant has the facility to treat also this special waste.
A recommendation to upgrade this facility in this regard was made by an inter-ministerial technical committee following financial and technical evaluations.
Industrial waste, including refuse-derived fuel, may contain streams with high calorific value and its inclusion for treatment is being considered to minimise operational costs - the higher the waste's calorific value, the less the amount of supplementary fuel needed to operate the facility.
The technical adjustments will focus on improved waste feeding systems and improved emission standards to meet all the relevant obligations.
The total amount of waste which will be processed at the abattoir incinerator will not change from that originally proposed, which shall not exceed 13,000 tonnes per annum.
Government is currently also negotiating with the Austrian government to receive technical assistance to oversee the implementation of this project.