Mepa has launched a public consultation following an application by WasteServ for IPPC (environmental permit) for a hazardous waste storage facility at Ghallis, adjacent to the former Maghtab dump. It follows development permits issued in July last year.
The site is located approximately 2km north of Naxxar and 2km east of Qawra, west of a former landfill and adjacent to the hazardous waste landfill.
The proposed installation will include:
- Hazardous waste / battery / drum and IBC stores;
- Solvent store having drum washing and crushing facilities;
- Hazardous Waste Facility Laboratory / Administration Building and Control Gate;
- Surface water reservoir / pumping station for the collection of all the surface water from the facility and pump it to one of the liquid bulk storage tanks awaiting treatment in the neutralisation facility;
- Roof Water Sump / Pumping Station for rain water that is collected from the roof tops of the facilities buildings. The roof water will be utilized for operational purposes within the facility and landscaping purposes;
- Workshop and Compressor Room housing the various tools and equipment required for the upkeep of the hazardous waste storage and Treatment Facility. The compressor will provide the pressurised air required for certain functions in the facility.
The hazardous wastes to be stored at the facility are expected to be the following:
The waste is planned to be managed as follows:
- Spent solvents only will be stored at the Solvent Storage Facility. The waste will then be directed to either export to facilities outside of Malta or incineration at the Marsa Thermal Treatment Facility.
- Combustion Waste (Fly ash) and Mineral Waste (asbestos) shall be received at the facility in closed containers and they will be stored pending export. Should the need arise, the quarantine area shall also cater for the storage of cytotoxic waste. It is important to note that these three waste streams will be immediately sealed on acceptance and will not be handled in any way within the facility.
- The remaining waste streams will be stored in the General Hazardous Waste Store. These wastes will be stored pending export to facilities outside of Malta or incineration at the Marsa Thermal
- At no point will hazardous waste be mixed, either with other categories of hazardous waste or with other waste, substances or materials (mixing includes the dilution of hazardous waste). Mixing could be done just if requested to MEPA and permitted by regulation.
No hazardous waste accepted at the Hazardous Waste Storage Facility will be landfilled.
Representations may be made to Mepa up to May 13.