Recycling plant never posed a risk to family park – Wasteserv

The Government’s waste agency yesterday cast doubts over claims that the Marsascala Family Park was forced to temporarily shut down due to a malfunction at its nearby Sant’Antnin waste recycling plant.

“We want to make it clear that according to our data, the failure of the hydrolyser had never posed any risk of dangerous emissions,” Wasteserv CEO Jonathan Scerri said.

The statement comes after the Government decided to close the park last July pending repairs of a piece of equipment, known as hydrolyser, at the nearby plant.

The controversial measure had been recommended by a panel of experts, which argued that in the absence of air monitoring devices at the site, the park should be shut down as a precaution.

The malfunction at the plant meant that biogas produced at the site had to be burnt through a special chimney. This in turn produced sulphur dioxide in the air around the plant.

For us there is no relationship between the hydrolyser and the opening of the park

In the absence of proper reading instruments on site, the three-expert panel suggested that the nearby park should be closed as a precaution.

Opposition spokesman George Pullicino – who was responsible for the plant and building the park when in government – criticised the move, saying there was no need to shut down the park and accused the Government of being spiteful.

Asked whether this declaration contrasts with the Government’s decision to shut the park, Mr Scerri stuck to his line that the agency had no data that showed that the plant ever posed any danger.

“What I can say is that at no point in time were any dangerous emissions registered from the damaged plant.

“The decision was taken by the Government and you should ask them for the reason,” Mr Scerri told Times of Malta.

He said that according to his knowledge, the Government’s decision was “a precautionary one” based on a technical report commissioned by the Environment Minister.

“In that report the experts recommended that the park should be closed as a precaution.

“However, from our side, there was never any risk to safety... but again, it wasn’t our decision,” he reiterated.

Asked specifically to state whether there would be any health and safety risks if the park were to be reopened tomorrow, Mr Scerri ruled out the possibility.

“For us there is no relationship between the hydrolyser and the opening of the park,” he said.

Increased air quality monitoring by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority had also recently concluded that the plant posed no risk to people visiting the site.

As a result, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil last week appealed for the park to reopen without further delay.

On his part, Environment Minister Leo Brincat said the park would be opened soon but gave no date.

The waste agency yesterday said it would take until February to repair the damage.

However, Mr Scerri said problem was not affecting the plant’s ability to process waste.

The damage to the plant was due to a mechanical failure last April.

On the other hand, the recreational park was closed in July.