Only two of the 16 unused quarries that could take inert waste are being used as landfills, Partit Demokratika leader Godfrey Farrugia complained.

He said that although most of the sites were leased public land, their operators were resisting their use as landfills.

“Government has the legal power to stop quarry operating licences and to withdraw agreements on the leases. Our national interest should dictate the way forward, more so if sites are public property,” he said.

Read: Permits issued for 10 quarries to ease pressure on construction waste

The statement was part of a wider one which called on the government to curb its “runaway development policy”, saying that this was pushing Malta into dire straits.

“Sustainable construction calls for the re-use of existing parts of buildings and materials; the separation of construction waste and its recycling even into another form; and the re-development or rehabilitation of unused buildings. Malta’s carrying capacity has been reached. These concepts decrease the burden on landfills,” MEP candidate Anthony Buttigieg added.

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