Mepa tells Falzon Waste Oils to temporarily cease operations at Menqa
The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has requested Falzon Waste Oils to temporarily cease operations due to the presence of offensive odours in the Menqa area. During this time, the authority will assess the situation, it said in a...
The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has requested Falzon Waste Oils to temporarily cease operations due to the presence of offensive odours in the Menqa area.
During this time, the authority will assess the situation, it said in a statement.
In July, the company's officials were cleared of dumping oils in the drainage system earlier in the month because the investigation had failed to satisfy criminal proceedings which could lead to conviction.
The manholes at Spencer Hill and Timber Wharf in Marsa were inspected in March 2009 after residents complained of bad odours.Two manholes were found to have a considerable quantity of oil which should never have been dumped into the drainage system.
Following a Water Services Corporation, Malta Environment and Planning Authourity and Transport Malta investigation, Waste Oils Co Ltd was suspected as the culprit.
The company's property was inspected on April 2, 2009 and a flexible pipe, the ends of which was covered in oil similar to that found in the drainage system, was found connected to the company's plant on one side and to an unused bathroom drain on the other.
Technical reports were drawn up and recommendations for steps to be taken against those responsible were made.
Two years later, MP Owen Bonnici submitted an official complaint and the director and plant manager were charged in court on April 2, 2011.
However, the prosecution failed to prove its case.
It was true that drainage close to the company was contaminated by a large quantity of oil but it was not established from where this was coming.