Overdependence on landfills was “a weakness” of the waste management strategy, according to a discussion paper released by the Environment Ministry.
The short document released yesterday stopped short of suggesting incineration as an option but pointed out that “technologies which may have had certain negative characteristics” have been “optimised”.
Environment Minister Leo Brincat was non-committal when asked whether incineration was excluded from the Government’s waste plans.
“It would be presumptuous for me to set the agenda when we have not yet heard what the people and stakeholders have to say,” he said.
Speaking in the quiet surroundings of the garden at his ministry in Casa Leone, St Venera, Mr Brincat set the ball rolling on a public consultation exercise ahead of a new waste management plan that has to be presented to Brussels in December.
Mr Brincat said the Government wanted to consult people and stakeholders at the very start of the process. The paper described the disposal of waste in landfills as “the lowest level” in the waste hierarchy. “All efforts to harness technology to move up the waste hierarchy should be encouraged.”
This message was reinforced by Mr Brincat who urged stakeholders to look at tried and tested solutions abroad rather than try to reinvent the wheel. He said some aspects of the current strategy had to be strengthened and others changed.
The Government has to submit its waste plan to the European Commission by the end of the year for the period 2014 to 2020.
The ministry will be receiving comments from the public until July 21 and these will be followed up with specific consultation meetings. The issues paper is available on the ministry’s website.
Asked about the studies he had commissioned on Wasteserv, the Government waste management agency, Mr Brincat said they were soon ready. He reiterated that the full reports will be published.
Mr Brincat had commissioned a strategic review of Wasteserv and ordered a separate investigation into the operations of the waste recycling plant at Sant’Antnin in Marsascala soon after taking office.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com