Alternattiva Demokratika said in a statement today that government's decision to operate a waste incinerator is a declaration that its waste management strategy has failed.

The government is set to introduce a waste to energy scheme, with a committee given a deadline for the end of the year to present a final proposal. Waste to energy technology recovers the energy found within materials, typically through an incinerator or combustion. It has been implemented in some European countries with resounding success.

AD, in today's statement, said: "In particular it (the waste management strategy) has failed in the objective of reducing the generation of waste, as well as the objective of separating and recycling waste," AD said.

"Only 12% of waste generated is recycled in the Maltese islands. With an incinerator to burn 40% of waste, the objective to reduce waste generation will be thwarted because of the amounts of waste necessary to feed the incinerator. Without a continuous stream of waste the incinerator proposed cannot be operated and the creation of businesses that recycle and extract resources from waste will be nipped in the bud. This goes contrary to the concept of the circular economy," AD said.

"The target of an incinerator that swallows 40% of waste is high and indicates that the government is not able to reach the targets achieved by other countries."