As the company responsible for the retrieval and management of gases from the air-conditioning equipment of large plant with chillers, WasteServ is collecting and storing the gases it receives from such industries.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi told Gino Cauchi (PL) in reply to a parliamentary question that WasteServ had informed Mepa that the amount of these gases retrieved to date was limited and its exportation was, therefore, not viable. Until such time as this would become feasible, WasteServ was storing these gases, technically known as 400C and 410A. No such gases had been exported to date for destruction or recycling.

In answer to Mr Cauchi's question whether aid was available to incentivise companies in the sector to collect gases in the best interests of the environment, instead of setting them free into the atmosphere in order to save labour and unnecessary expense, Dr Gonzi said Mepa knew of no such aid mechanisms. WasteServ was being consulted on this issue in the possibility that it might have some plans for such aid schemes.