Ta' Zwejra temporary waste storage "safe"

WasteServ Malta said yesterday that gases from the disused Maghtab dump would be collected and treated, eliminating dangerous emissions.

It was referring to points raised by Labour MP Michael Farrugia in parliament about the temporary waste storage facility at Ta' Zwejra, Maghtab, including that the rehabilitation of the dump would cause carcinogenic gases, which WasteServ denied.

WasteServ regretted that in his remarks Dr Farrugia had failed to mention that the Ta' Zwejra facility was equipped with the necessary infrastructure to reduce the impacts he referred to. The facility, it said, was lined with a number of layers which were obligatory by law, including a 500mm thick layer, membrane and another layer for liquid drainage generated by the waste. The layers would serve as protection for the water table and the surrounding area.

It added this was a completely different system from the one used at the Maghtab dumpsite. Apart from that, a synergy was being created between the waste storage facility and the Maghtab rehabilitation programme. This would be achieved by using the same gas extraction compound that would be used for the management of the gases at the Maghtab dump. Another system would be used to collect and circulate liquids generated by the waste to accelerate the waste treatment process.

Apart from that, WasteServ said it was conducting more rigorous control on the type of waste so that there would be absolute control on what was being deposited at this facility.

The facility where the waste was being stored conformed with the landfill directive issued by the European Union, which permits the storage of waste for a period of not more than three years until the waste is retrieved or treated.

The temporary facility did not require a development permit because it was situated within the confines of Maghtab, for which a permit was issued in 1997. The work was conducted in consultation with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and the process for the provision of an environmental licence was according to the necessary procedure. All the precautionary measures to reduce the environmental impact were taken and the environmental licence was issued before the facility started operating on May 1.

By using this facility, the old dumpsite at Maghtab would be rehabilitated, however this was just a temporary solution until the permanent engineered landfill or other temporary storage facility were ready.