Quantity of used car oil found in Marsaxlokk dump

A quantity of used car oil kept in leaking drums was among rubbish found this morning when Resources Ministry workers started to remove some 25 tons of debris in the area of Fort St Paul at Xrobb l-Għagin, Marsaxlokk.

Resources Minister George Pullicino, who visited the site, said it was shameful that so much waste had been dumped in this scenic area, more so his ministry had set up a number of Civil Amenity Sites where all forms of waste could be disposed of.

The minister pointed out that the oil from the drums could leak down to the water table, with harmful consequences.

The workers this morning also found a large number of empty plastic jerrycans, mattresses, washing machines and bathroom tiles.

The removal of the dump is expected to take three weeks.

Mr Pullicino said this clean-up followed an initiative by Parliamentary Assistant Franco Debono. Dr Debono was also present on the site this morning.

The Public Cleansing Department in the first half of this year removed some 9,000 tons of waste from the streets. During the same period is handled 7,000 calls for the collection of bulky refuse. 50,000 tons of waste were collected at the Civic Amenity Sites.