'Perfume wall' at Maghtab

Maghtab has long been associated with smells, but the stench should metamorphose into fragrant scents with the proposed creation of a "perfume wall", as part of the landfill's rehabilitation.

The winning designs of German consortium Melitopia, chosen from eight submissions in an international competition, should convert Maghtab into a sweet-smelling recreational park.

The perfume wall of vegetation, from thyme to lavender and rosemary, is intended to balance out the odours emanating from the waste management site.

The proposed concept includes an expanse of land for paragliding and hand gliding adventure sports, cells of peace and spirituality, an open-air theatre on the Maghtab plateau, a sand wave to link the park to the sea, and picnic areas.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who toured the Maghtab Environmental Complex yesterday with Environment Minister George Pullicino, said the design was chosen on the strength of its numerous open spaces.

"This big wound will be converted into a wide expanse of land for the people's recreation. This is only doable because we have secured EU funds and we have the dedication and the commitment," Dr Gonzi said.

The project, which will cost €30 million from EU funds, covers a footprint of 59 hectares and will be split into three phases starting in the near future and spanning a period of 20 years and over.

The landscaping along the coast road should start shortly and over the next couple of years, people will be able to start using the area as a fly-park. During his tour, Dr Gonzi also visited the €8.4-million gas station where he kick-started the process to extract and neutralise gases from 46 wells drilled into the closed landfill.

The contract for Maghtab's rehabilitation to extract and monitor toxic gases was awarded to the German company JV Hasse and Vassallo Group last year.

Vassallo Group chairman Nazzareno Vassallo explained that over the next year they were likely to drill up to 500 wells.

The station can separate methane gas, which can eventually be used to generate electricity, as well as toxic gases. Over the three-month testing period the company will be in a better position to gauge the situation and establish where they had to drill the remaining wells.

"We are expecting to extract more toxic gases than useful methane gas from the old landfill. On the other hand, the engineered landfills of Zwejra and Ghallis will reap more methane," Mr Vassallo said.

The toxic gases will be burnt in a so-called Voxy Box that can reach temperatures of up to 1,000°C. All that would be left from the noxious fumes would be ashes.

Dr Gonzi encouraged the public to visit Maghtab as WasteServ organises its second open day today. People will be taken on a tour through the civic amenity site, the closed Maghtab landfill, which is being rehabilitated, and the Ta' Zwejra and Ghallis engineered landfills.

Technical people will explain how the gases are being extracted from the closed landfill and neutralised, how an engineered landfill works and how they can dispose of bulky waste.

Guided tours will take place every hour between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.