The draft document on waste strategy is not a national but a business strategy for WasteServ, said the Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry.

It said it had always believed the creation of WasteServ had somewhat distorted the waste management market, a market which could have otherwise opened a number of opportunities for the private sector.

The chamber said the new document specifically mentions that WasteServ should act as an operator of last resort but since WasteServ's inception, the private sector can attest that very often this was not the case.

"If further proof was required, this document relentlessly confirms that this public entity will continue to further enlarge its operations. It is envisaged that through WasteServ's expansion it will continue to crowd out the private sector. Competition between the private sector and any entity financed through taxpayers' money can never be on a level playing field," it said in a statement.

It also said no recommendations with specific measurable targets and completion dates have been presented in the current paper and, as such, there was no baseline on which the developments in this sector could be established.

A public consultation meeting on this document will be held on Thursday at 6.30 p.m. at the Sant'Antnin recycling plant in Marsascala.

The document is available on www.wastestrategy.gov.mt.