Works on the new Malta North waste treatment plant are on track for the plant to start accepting waste by the end of the year, Environment Minister Leo Brincat said during a visit to the site.

Once complete, the plant will aim to treat over twice the amount of waste currently being sent for treatment at the Sant Antnin Recycling Plant.

It is expected to generate 9.8GWh of electricity per year, and reduce 58,000 cubic metres of waste from being deposited in the Għallis landfills.

Mr Brincat said that once operational, the plant would play an integral role in the country’s Waste Management Strategy.

He said the total cost for the project was €60 million, of which €43 million is being financed by the EU Cohesion Fund.

Chief Project Manager Jean Luke Zarb said that the new plant will treat 152,000 tonnes – of 240,000 generated in total – of waste every year.

He added that the plant would include a mechanical pre-treatment stage, that will treat both mixed municipal solid waste and bulky waste, as well as a biological treatment stage. The plant will also be the first in Malta to offer facilities for treating animal husbandry waste.