Waste management problems

After reading the article The Long And Winding Road To Sant'Antnin (1) by George Pullicino one would conclude that we are not living on the same planet let alone on the same island.

In his article, Minister Pullicino states that when Mepa approved the alternative site assessment prepared by SLR Company Ltd, the "report was sent to the Zejtun, Zabbar and Marsascala local councils. No comments were received".

The relevant report was received by the Zejtun local council on November 1, 2004. After consultation and adequate studies, the Zejtun local council wrote to the Director Environment Protection, the Director of Planning and to the Director General of Mepa clearly stating its position. The Zejtun local council also pointed out that the application was misleading and, following our letter of protest, Mepa forced WasteServ Malta to re-apply stating clearly that the project, originally described as a minor one, actually proposed three massive plants.

Maybe Mr Pullicino is relying on second-hand information.

During the same timeframe (October 27, 2004), SLR Company Ltd, which never considered consulting the Zejtun local council on the Sant'Antin recycling plant, requested a meeting with mayor Joe Attard to discuss the proposed landfill at Ghallis.

No wonder that our documented facts are different from those propounded by the minister!

The problem with waste management and the South of Malta had been raised by several local councils, including those of Zejtun, Zurrieq, Birzebbuga, Xghajra, Fgura, Cospicua and Marsascala, way back in April 2000.

A press release that had been issued over the signature of Joe Cassar, then mayor of Zurrieq, among other waste management problems had singled out the expected immense increase of waste management at the Sant'Antnin recycling plant.

Waste management proposals can never be successfully implemented on fictitious statements but on truthful and transparent, open dialogue.