The Nationalist Party says it is worried that the authorities did not react to reports of an “unbearable” stench emanating from the Sant’Antnin recycling plant.

Repeated complaints by people living nearby remained unanswered, environment party spokesman Charlo Bonnici told a press conference yesterday.

He asked whether the planning authority was carrying out inspections at the Marsascala plant to ensure it was operating according to the conditions imposed.

Mr Bonnici also asked whether the mechanical treatment plant that would generate biogas was operational and whether one of the digestion tanks had been left open for repairs, adding to the stench.

Was it possible that the collected grey garbage bags, holding recyclable waste, were being left to accumulate and not being processed in a timely manner, he asked.