MEP raises incinerator concerns - PN reacts

Labour MEP Louis Grech has asked the European Commission to give its opinion on government plans to build an incinerator for solid waste at Marsaxlokk.

In a written question to the commission, Mr Grech said the south of Malta was already overly burdened which pollution-causing industry which was detrimental to the environment and public health.

He said that it was suspected that the project’s impact assessment was only meant to confirm a decision which had already been taken by the government.

The impact on the people had not been given the importance it deserved.

Mr Grech pointed out that the €108 million incinerator would be sited nest to the power station, which, he said, was operating without emission filters despite the interventions of the commission.

The Nationalist Party said the PL was confused and was twisting the facts on this issue. The PL had said it would set up a committee to discuss the waste management strategy, but nothing had been heard from it so far.

In contrast, the government had made its proposals after extensive consultations and the input of the experts, and everything was transparent.

The government denied that the incinerator would take all solid waste, saying it would only receive refuse derived fuel.

Were it up to Labour, waste management would still only mean dumping waste at Maghtab, the government said.