Muscat complains about glass waste dumped at Wied Fulija

F J Brincat

May 21st 2009, 15:48

Dr Frank Psaila, so the PN does not agree that it is a pity that Wied Fulija is used as a dumping site for glass containers and that perhaps there could be an alternative?

To be honest, I doubt very much that Dr Muscat attacked the waste separation scheme itself. If he did attack the scheme (and not the fact that Wied Fulija is a glass container dump site) then that would put him in a bad light.

But if he didn’t attack the scheme and you come and post that comment here, it would put you personally and the PN in an even uglier light.

Galea. L

May 20th 2009, 23:14

Pull the other one Wasteserve.
To all those who are defending wasteserve you should be ashamed of yourselves because the glass could and should have been kept in containers until there was enough to be exported not dumped.

S Caruana

May 20th 2009, 23:10

@ John Schembri
Dear John, I live in the area too (Nigret), it is incredible how certain people tend to talk. It is true, we really suffered, but come on to be too obvious now. You must be joking when giving the impression that you are happy with this rubbish which Wasteserv dumped. It is totally unaccebtable to ruin again Wied Fulija. Why you dont ask Wasteserve to dump some of the glass in your backgarden since it is not harmful and you can make money too.
Thanks to persons like JM who make us aware of this hypocrisy ...!

Michael Spiteri

May 20th 2009, 22:21

A crime against nature. Nothing more, nothing less.

Alfred Farrugia

May 20th 2009, 21:53

Is it not possible to recycle this glass in Malta? Can WasteServ partner with some other private entrepreneur and set up a small scale facility for the recycling of waste? How much is it costing WasteServ to transport this glass to this dump? How much is it going to cost it to collect it again and export it? Are all these expenses considered when examining the feasibility of small scale waste-to-energy facilities?

If we do not dump enough glass, is it not possible that together with plastic and aluminum containers we might have enough for a few reverse vending systems and centers, and eventually a small waste-to-energy facility.

Has WasteServ ever heard of Tomra?

http://www.tomra.com/default.asp?V_ITEM_ID=47

http://www.tomra.com/default.asp?V_ITEM_ID=49

http://www.tomra.com/default.asp?MARK_SEARCH=YES&SEARCH_ID=s1&V_ITEM_ID=392

http://www.tomra.com/default.asp?V_ITEM_ID=50

D Zammit

May 20th 2009, 21:29

@ John Schembri

So does two wrongs make one right for you? Or is it a case that if PL did it it's horribly wrong and if the PN did it it's excusable?

joyce aquilina

May 20th 2009, 20:29

@john schembri,
why is it you pn voters when you have nothing to say or when your party is in the wrong you always have to mention the 80s,for us the 70s and the 80s were the best years

I M Dingli

May 20th 2009, 20:17

@ John Schembri

Prosit eh!! I guess you're one of the advisors for Wastserv, correct?!!

Shall we start a list with all the monstrosities done by the present Government in the past 20 years when it concerns the environment?

C. Schembri

May 20th 2009, 20:16

@ Mario Desira:

QUOTE: And why is glass not being picked up in grey recycling bags?

In that way, it safeguards the safety of waste collectors and separators, as glass (if broken) can tear plastic bags and be exposed to the detriment of the bags' handlers.

Fortunato Said

May 20th 2009, 20:00

Has anyone explored the possibility of recycling this glass by crushing it and using it as inert aggregate in concrete or tarmac? This process has been used successfully abroad and will partly replace a non-renewable resource; natural hard stone.

Ronald Galea

May 20th 2009, 19:55

@ all
X'ghandu x'jaqsam Joseph Muscat?
It is a fact that this government dumped the glass waste in a valley.
X'qal JM is irrelevant.
The glass was dumped there just the same. Were are the green wardens?

Frank Psaila

May 20th 2009, 19:31

Part 2

Il-Partit Nazzjonalista jfakkar li kieku ħadna l-parir tal-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni, kieku llum lanqas għandna fejn nittrattaw l-iskart isseparat l-ieħor (karta, metall u plastik) ukoll għax Joseph Muscat ried jiffriża l-fondi tal-Unjoni Ewropea għall-immodernizzar tal-Impjant ta’ Riċiklaġġ ta’ Sant’Antnin. Il-PN jinnota wkoll kif il-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni illum qed jgħidilna x’missna nnegozjajna pero fil-mument meta konna qed ninnegozjaw hu kien minn ta’ quddiem nett KONTRA s-sħubija u jaghmel programmi partiggjani kontra s-shubija ta’ Malta fl-Unjoni Ewropea!

L-irresponsabbilta’ tal-Oppożizzjoni toħroġ ukoll mill-kummenti tal-Kelliem Leo Brincat li reġa rrepeta kif l-Oppożizzjoni resqet xi mozzjoni fil-Parlament dwar Tibdil fil-Klima. Il-fatti huma li l-Oppożizzjoni resqet riżiluzzjoni ta’ 153 kelma mingħajr ebda proposta konkreta u ma resqet l-ebda sottomissjoni tul il-proċess ta’ konsultazzjoni pubblika dwar l-Istrateġija Nazzjonali dwar it-Tibdil fil-Klima. L-istess skiet ikkaratterizza l-pożizzjoni tal-Partit Laburista dwar l-Abbozz ta’ Reviżjoni dwar l-Istrateġija Nazzjonali dwar l-Iskart kif ukoll dwar l-Energy Policy.

Il-Partit Nazzjonalista jappella lin-nies ikomplu jisseparaw permezz tal-bring-in sites sabiex ikollna attivita’ vjabbli u sostenibbli u nkomplu nghinu l-ambjent. Il-PN jiddeplora l-kampanja sistematika tal-Oppożizzjoni li bil-kliem tgħid li hi favur l-ambjent pero bil-fatti tara kif timmina kull inizjattiva ambjentali li tkun qed issir.


Dr Frank Psaila
Direttur Informazzjoni, PN

Frank Psaila

May 20th 2009, 19:29

Part 1

Stqarrija PN

Il-Kap tal-Oppozizzjoni jkompli jkun superficjali

Issa kien imiss li jattakka s-separazzjoni tal-iskart

Il-lista dejjem titwal ta’ dikjarazzjonijiet irresponsabbli mill-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni kompliet dalgħodu meta f’attivita’ politika ipprova jitfa d-dubji fuq l-iskema ta’ ġbir ta’ skart isseparat li tant hi popolari u li l-poplu Malti u Għawdxi qieghed jaghmilha success billi jissepara l-iskart fid-djar, billi juza l-bring in sites u billi juza c-Centri ghall-Gbir ta’ Skart goff. Bil-politika ta’ separazzjoni ta’ skart goff f’pajjizna qed jinholqu aktar impjiegi marbuta mal-ambjent, dawk imsejjha green jobs.

Bħas-soltu, l-kummenti tal-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni kienu superficjali u intiżi biss biex joħolqu dubji fuq skemi li qed iwasslu biex inħarsu l-ambjent u joholqu l-impjiegi. Il-fatti juru kif il-ħġieġ qed ikun biss maħżun f’Wied Fulija sakemm jiġi esportat fi kwantitajiet vjabbli.

Huwa kurjuż kif l-interess tal-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni f’Wied Fulija ma wasslux biex isemmi wkoll kif din il-miżbla li kienet saret taħt Gvern Laburista tas-sebgħinijiet ngħalqet fl-1995 u beda l-proċess ta’ riabilitazzjoni tagħha, l-istess kif qed isir fil-miżbliet magħluqa tal-Magħtab u tal-Qortin f’Għawdex.

Noel Cutajar

May 20th 2009, 19:27

The question is this:

Does anyone know how much is the fine if you throw a glass bottle in the countryside and get caught by a green warden?

So please I encourage anyone who has any glass bottles to dump them in this valley as this would help wasteserve to have the desired amount to remove it completely...

If yes, then ask yourself, why should a company which is set to protect the environment with all the schemes 'stores' glass bottles in a valley? Who will be accountable for a proper clean up? Can wasteserv confirm when such glass bottles will be removed and all broken glass will be removed...and another thing where is our green MP and MEP on this issue??? maybe trying to count votes with recycled paper?

As to the PN apologists...go to the valley and enjoy some fresh air, as you really need it.

J. Schembri

May 20th 2009, 19:17

I live near the area all I can say is that wied Fulija was destroyed by the PL when it was in government in the 80's , we really suffered with the stinking smell from this dump . Piling up glass in this dumpsite is harmless to the environment.
Joseph should have apologised for what his party did to us in Zurrieq and thanked Wasteserve for removing the gases from this uncontrolled dumpsite.
That glass can be sold at the right price in the future. It won't emit poisonous fumes to the surrounding areas.

Mario Desira

May 20th 2009, 18:56

A pathetic reply from Wasteserv, no? What is the use of us people washing and cleaning and putting clean glass containers in the glass skip if they end up like this, exposed to all sorts of dust dirt and weather??!!
And why is glass not being picked up in grey recycling bags? They still end up in other black bags all the same! This waste management strategy smells of amateurism!! People expect a more rational approach.............

Paul Barrett

May 20th 2009, 18:32

Take the politics out of this and look at the crime.
1. It looks like a magnet for children to find and want to spend hours smashing bottles - with the resulting dangers of flying glass.
2. The possibility of fire - glass bottles have been known to use the sun to set fire to the undergrowth.
3. Re-collecting and packing the glass for shipment is likely to result in contamination of the glass with other substances - rock and earth as well as spreading glass fragments.
4. Returning the area to its original pristine condition is going to be an expensive nightmare with bits of dangerous glass everywhere around.

Why was not this glass crushed and placed in containers ready for shipment or at least stored in suitable concrete bunkers in preparation for shipment.

In the "Polluter Pays" principle, those responsible for this mess need to be made to clean up their act and clean it up NOW !

Keith Buhagiar

May 20th 2009, 18:26

The Storage of glass waste - a measure employed in order to make its exportation a viable process, is acceptable...but meanwhile, why not place the disposed glass bottles and shards in apropriate storage containers? Dumping within a valley, even though a temporary measure, is an unaccaptable procedure.

Robert Caruana

May 20th 2009, 18:05

Wasteserv, your reply is unconvincing to say the very least. Temporary or not, a glass rubbish dump in the countryside (even if Wied Fulija was formerly used for dumping) is simply not an acceptable way of storing glass that will be recycled. And when the 'sufficient volume' for export is reached and the glass is exported? Glass waste will still be produced. Where will it be stored? At Wied Fulija? And I waste my time taking glass to bring in sites for it to end up 'al fresco' in a dump off Zurrieq! Halluna!

G. Fenech

May 20th 2009, 17:56

@ A. Debattista: This is not fishing for votes, this is a huge pile of glass sitting in a valley, when it should be somewhere else.

@James Spiteri: Shameful? Shamefull for pointing out something that shouldnt be happening? Shamefull for asking for the right thing to be done?

Take off the blinkers pls! Start looking around and try to see whats happening to our country!

James Hamilton

May 20th 2009, 17:54

The Nationalist Party accused Dr Muscat of being superficial and said his comments had only been intended to create doubts on schemes which were creating jobs and safeguarding the environment.

Excuse my ignorance, but how can this ever be considered as safeguarding the environment?
If this land belongs to Wasteserve, then okay there is nothing more to say.......But if the glass is being dumped on public land which I'm sure it is,then it should be removed immediately.
What next garages dumping engine oil?.... Perish the thought.
This shouldn't be made into a political issue, just a little bit of common sense is needed

Muscat.Pat

May 20th 2009, 17:46

Ah, if a private individual ventured to dumb this glass waste on his own land, MEPA, and I suppose the minister reponsible for the environment, would have come down on him and hit him hard with a hammer weighing one ton! However,the picture does show the Government's commitment to the environment cause the green glass blends well with nature!

Edward Zammit

May 20th 2009, 17:45

@ A.Debattista, James Spiteri

Are you plain crazy??!! Do you think it's a job well done for WasteServ (Government) to "temporarily store" collected glass waste in a pristine valley ??!! Can't they "temporarily store" such waste in separate parts of landfills?

marija falzon

May 20th 2009, 17:41

does wasteserve has a permit to use this valley as a dumping site until the required amount has been reached? what are the required amounts? how much of the valley is to be occupied until this amount is reached?

joyce aquilina

May 20th 2009, 17:37

a debattista and james spiteri,
i think you made a mistake blaming joseph muscat in doing these things to obtain votes,i belive you wanted to say gonzi and freinds

Christian Mifsud

May 20th 2009, 17:30

The reply by wasteserv and the goverment is pathetic. Was not there any other place where to store this glass, like a store?

G. Mangion

May 20th 2009, 17:28

J.M kap tal - Le LE u LE ,

Stop Trying to Mislead the Facts ! this will Only continue Your Big run Downwards.
at least have some respect to ...........

lzammit

May 20th 2009, 17:24

Joseph Muscat needs to get at least one right. Is this the man who expects to be Malta's leader one day? The Maltese people are not as gullible as he thinks.

Samuel Scicluna

May 20th 2009, 17:21

Whether or not Muscat's done his homework on this issue, I'm sure Wasteserv could have found somewhere else to store glass, instead of dumping it in one of Malta's few valleys. Temporary or not, this will still have a negative environmental impact.

A bit more responsibility from all bodies involved, please!

A.Debattista

May 20th 2009, 17:18

Joseph Muscat keeps clinging to everything that is vaguely popular with the people ta obtain cheap votes. It is very easy to complain but much harder to take decisions.
I only have one message for you Joseph; stop making politics a theater.

James Spiteri

May 20th 2009, 17:07

Joseph Muscat needs to set a good example himself. Check things clear before stating something in the public ! ...

Shameful opposition to government.