Comino given a major clean-up

Eleven truckloads of waste that had accumulated on Comino over the last 20 years was yesterday removed from the island as part of a major clean-up operation which started last month.

A Gozo Channel vessel ferried away scrap metal and glass, much of which dated back to the time when the pig farm was built.

Among the rubbish that was collected were seven vehicles, including an abandoned truck, which were taken apart and transported to Malta for recycling.

Mattresses and old furniture that had been deposited in the bakery buildings on Comino over the years were also removed, while around 200 sacks of glass and a large number of old water heaters from a landfill were collected.

The operation was carried out by workers of the Department of Manufacture and Services, the Sant' Antnin Waste Treatment Plant and the Embellishment Services Unit, all within the Resources and Infrastructure Ministry.

Comino's waste and its sources had been analysed, Resources and Infrastructure Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said, and it was estimated that around 500 kgs of waste was generated in the tourist season.

Half of it was biodegradable and would remain on the island to be used as compost, while the other half was packaging waste - plastic, glass, tins, cans and containers for food - for which there was a recycling market.

Dr Zammit Dimech said the government's message was that it was committed to cleaning every corner of the islands.

He appealed to those visiting Comino - both locals and foreigners - not to leave their garbage behind. The idea was to introduce waste separation at source on the island. Sites, in which waste would be deposited, were intended for Comino and Ghajnsielem council would be applying for the Malta Environment and Planning Authority permits.

Dr Zammit Dimech said he was pleased to note that the environmental NGO Friends of the Earth was in contact with local farmers to encourage them to introduce organic farming in Comino.

Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono, who was also present to witness the tail-end of the clean-up operation, said the government was using every means and was even teaming up with the private sector and environmental NGOs where necessary to protect the environment.

She mentioned the sewage master plan for Gozo and said it would ensure that bays would be fit to swim in, as well as the waste treatment plant - projects that were being financed by the European Union.

Both ministers expressed their gratitude towards Comino resident Salvu Vella, who lent a hand in the clean-up operation, using his equipment to collect the rubbish and deposit it on the quay for transport to Malta.

Mr Vella, who has his own equipment, was interested in managing the collection and storage of the separated waste until it was shipped out for recycling.