Waste management options

It looks like a decision has been taken. It was about time.

The impression given by one and all during the last years of Maghtab and its waste management, engineered or politicised, depending on your personal beliefs, is that nobody wants the solution in his back yard, or in anyone else's backyard in some cases.

What I cannot understand is that none of these critics have themselves come up with the solution.

Being philosophical one can imagine some extreme solutions:

Extreme solution 1: Close all landfills. Stop all waste collection. Stop all development.

Great, this makes idealists really happy.

Extreme option 2: All waste remains in the respective councils' backyards.

Perfect justice, solve your own problem, do not dump it on others.

Financial reward option: The council where the landfills are situated get paid at a rate by the ton by the respective councils being serviced.

Now, this, I guess, could generate a few opportunistic thoughts and offers especially if they have the space (in our backyard, please).

Criticism acceptance terms: Objections to the present decision will be listened to, if the objector offers what he is convinced to be the solution.

My proposals.

Building material waste: The major contributor to Mount Maghtab is building material, therefore, building developers have to recycle all the material removed from their development. Stone and old concrete will be recycled back into the same development. (See one of the engineering projects this year).

Domestic waste: This can be roughly divided into food remnants, plastic, glass, metal, paper and can go to the professionally managed landfill (engineered).

Bulk refuse: Old domestic equipment, such as fridges, washing machines, etc and now computers and air conditioners can be sent to recyclers abroad.

Automotive waste: Tyres and spent oils can be recycled and old cars follow the bulk refuse route.

Industrial waste: Industry looks at waste as a cost and they will generate the least possible or their competitiveness suffers.

Hospital waste: Should be catered for by the new hospital.

The present situation.

Now, looking at what is the present decision to use Ghallis and that horrible big hole next to Neolithic temples of Mnajdra, let us be logical and not stupid.

The last thing we need to have is all that Maghtab material being transferred around Malta. The ideal thing is not to touch it, but since this waste mountain was not managed professionally, then it has to be resited and the next best place is near to where the new site can be engineered properly.

On the other hand, the Mnajdra quarry should be looked at as the opportunity to recover this horrible wound and actually try and reach the state where the place is made to look like it was before, with landscaping that will restore it to its original state! I am sure photographic records exists.

I hope this gives food for thought and generates some positive synergy between all interested persons - that is all of us.