Potential after-use of landfills restricted

Although there are numerous potential after-uses for each of the existing landfills, there are limitations to what is feasible to construct on the restored surfaces, the first report published by the company, entrusted with the restoration strategy of the existing landfills, has shown.

This was a result of the extent of contamination and the restrictive nature of each site in terms of geometry, the report said.

A summary of the report by Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick & Co. Ltd was handed to reporters during a press conference, held yesterday by Resources and Infrastructure Minister Francis Zammit Dimech.

The rehabilitation process, which comprises the installation of pollution control systems, may take a number of years to implement and become truly a community benefit. Furthermore, the restorative process of the existing landfills will take "many decades".

The project by SWK & Co is split up into four stages, and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Its initial objectives, such as the development of communication lines with the relevant parties, has already been established.

The report says that there was general consensus among those consulted that the visual appearance of the existing landfills and their aerial emissions were unacceptable and need to be improved.

The investigations will be targeted at identifying the hazards presented by the sites and dealing with each one of them.

During the press conference, held to give an update report of the waste management situation, Dr Zammit Dimech said the 56 time-frames and targets set by Progett Skart, government's waste management strategy, were on target and in most cases exceeded.

He said that 11 of Progett Skart's proposals had been accomplished, 21 were currently being carried out, and 24 had started.

For example, groups such as the recycled building materials working party had been set up while government was currently introducing deposit refund systems for selected potentially hazardous products.

Government's ultimate aim is to close and rehabilitate the landfills of Maghtab and Qortin, while building the necessary infrastructure to cope with the island's waste.

This includes the construction of a transfer station for waste in Gozo, the closure of incinerators which do not meet the required levels, and the construction of recycling facilities.

A total of 1.24 million tons of solid waste were dumped at Maghtab between September 2001 and June, a million tons of which was construction waste.

In addition, Dr Zammit Dimech said, there were 11 licenced quarries in which 400,000 tons of construction waste were dumped.

The minister said that a controlled landfill, one which does not cause any harm to people in the vicinity, would have to be built in future.

Earlier this year, the government published a Project Description Statement in connection with two short-listed sites for a landfill.

The second phase is the preparation of the document for an Environmental Impact Assessment, Traffic Impact Assessment and a detailed design for a landfill.

These documents were sent to the interested Maltese and foreign companies on Wednesday, Dr Zammit Dimech said. The companies have been given until September 23 to submit their proposal.

Dr Zammit Dimech said that last year the government exported Lm2 million worth of recyclable material.

In the meantime the waste separation scheme in Swieqi and Sta Lucija had started, in which residents were being handed bio-degradable bins and garbage bags. The Sant'Antnin plant was also being upgraded.

The Building and Industry Consultative Council has drawn up another report with concrete proposals as part of the government's waste management strategy.

Among others, the report proposes the setting up of a number of a facility to receive, store and process inert waste, and produce recycled products and material that meet recognised standards.

The report recommends the further revision of current rent laws to promote the re-use and refurbishment of old building stock as opposed to new buildings.

Dr Zammit Dimech criticised the environment report drawn up by the Labour Party, which he said was often contradictory and provided nothing more than vague proposals.