Committee against recycling plant pledges loyalty to residents

The committee against the Sant'Antnin recycling plant yesterday pledged its loyalty to residents who did not want the new plant set up on the same site as the existing one.

The committee's chairman, Marsascala mayor Charlo Mifsud, said the committee, set up in April 2004, still had the same aim - to lobby for the recycling plant's removal from Marsascala.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Mifsud asked why a call for tenders for the project was issued when they had filed an appeal with MEPA, contesting the permit that was issued in September for the plant's construction. This tender document was a form of pressure on the appeals board, Mr Mifsud argued.

Asked about the stand taken by the Labour Party in favour of the modernisation "but not enlargement" of the Sant'Antnin recycling plant, Mr Mifsud said the committee had had a meeting with leader Alfred Sant who urged them to remain loyal to residents in their campaign.

The committee said the National Strategy Reference Framework 2005 report, submitted by the government to the EU and which Labour MEP Joseph Muscat had obtained for them, showed that some €30 million was going to be spent and that the plant will cater for 200,000 tons of waste, which implied that the plant would be the only one of its kind in Malta and would be used to treat all waste.

They also asked whether an incinerator was being planned for their locality.

In its reply the Ministry for the Environment and Rural Affairs said only a third of the country's waste would be treated at Sant'Antnin and this was very clear even from the preliminary permit issued by MEPA.

The ministry said the appeal filed by the committee against MEPA's permit did not impede the call for tenders from being issued. It appealed to the committee to stop its delaying tactics that could lead to a loss of €17 million from EU cohesion funds.

Government remains committed to implement its proposals while respecting the country's laws, the ministry said.