Bulky waste site open in Gozo

Gozo's first site for bulky waste was opened to the public in Xewkija yesterday.

The facility, known as a civic amenity site, is the fifth being installed after the four opened in Maghtab, Mriehel, Luqa and Hal Far.

About 70 per cent of the project, which cost some €4.6 million, was financed by the EU, while the rest of the bill was footed by the government.

The sites collect mostly domestic bulky waste, such as old TV sets, refrigerators and furniture and have proven to be very popular so far.

In fact, since being introduced in 2007 up until last May, a total of 31,200 tonnes of such waste was collected. The site at Mriehel is the most popular.

Resources Minister George Pullicino, Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono and Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said were present for the inauguration.

Mr Pullicino said that he expects illegal dumping of bulky waste to subside now. "Up until a few years ago, there was a culture in Malta through which everyone used to dump everything wherever they pleased."