Environmental issues could not be confined to one ministry, Environment Minister Leo Brincat told Parliament yesterday.

The main priority for 2015 would be the split of Mepa to give the environment the importance it deserved.

Air quality was another major challenge that needed to be constantly monitored.

This year, 3,219 trees had been planted and more would follow.

The damage that fish farms were causing was unacceptable. A new disease had been discovered that dated back to the previous administration.

There were various ways to address waste management, including a pilot project to introduce organic waste bags.

It was ascertained that allegations about hazardous waste oil having been dumped at Magħtab, including photographs of this, had been fabricated.

The Għallis landfill would be recontoured and, next month, an agreement on an incinerator would be signed with Wasteserv.

A request for proposals would be issued for the recycling of plastic.

On waste management, he said various steps had to be taken to ensure that the Sant’Antnin plant received more than the 13 to 17 per cent of grey waste bags it was receiving at present.

The rest ended up in the landfill.

Mr Brincat said the promised scientific consultative committee for the environment had just been set up and would hold its first formal meeting soon.

Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes said the new fish market should be in operation by April.

A new council for agriculture would be set up next week. A series of measures will be taken to instil confidence in a new rural development programme.

This year, cattle breeders realised the importance of diversifying and had already exported 500 calves to North Africa.