Marsa council objects to planned incinerator

The Marsa local council is calling on the Malta Environment and Planning Authority not to approve an application for a waste treatment facility in the town.

On Sunday, Health Minister Louis Deguara said the incinerator at St Luke's Hospital will be closed soon and medical waste will be treated at a new facility in Marsa. The facility would also treat industrial waste and remains from the abattoir.

But the local council has condemned this decision, saying the incinerator in Albert Town would be used for a different purpose than it is used for today.

"The council wants to know how industrial waste, which contains dangerous substances, as well as waste from the hospital and the abattoir will be consumed in the incinerator," Marsa mayor Francis Debono said.

The council was also questioning whether any reports were carried out about the incinerator's impact on the area.

The council was not consulted on this issue, Mr Debono said.

On the other side of the fence, Pieta PN councillors have expressed satisfaction that the hospital incinerator will be closed down, saying this will help reduce the pollution problem in the neighbourhood.