This was the gist of the argument put forward by Ing Chris Ciantar during an interview on the future of Maghtab at WasteServ’s offices in Sta Venera.

“We would like to minimise the impact on the preferred site of the new landfill at Ghallis as much as possible, as the potential to use existing facilities has long been investigated. Due to the award of Package 1 (closure of Maghtab for inert waste) in July 2003, a void was created in this front area by excavating inert material to cover the daily dumping of waste at the top of Maghtab. The void that was created was developed to begin storing waste in an engineered way,” says Dr Ciantar.

I asked him if this storage facility was temporary or permanent. The idea is to use this facility to store the waste generated in one year until a long term facility is developed he replied. In the meantime, additional work onthe other permanent facilities continues.

So what about the rubbish being dumped on the top of the original Maghtab mountain? “This was a process that terminated on 1 May. However, the amount of rubbish left uncovered at the top of Maghtab needs to be covered by inert waste being excavated at Ta’ Zwejra, so this short term issue should be solved very soon, says Dr Ciantar.

We then discussed the process that is actually being used in the ‘Ta’ Zwejra’ facilities. “This is a state-of-the-art process and involves lining the bottom of the pit with special membranes to eliminate leakage of leachate.

“We then proceed to dump layers of rubbish about three metres high. That is the reason why the rubbish must be covered gradually, as you have to complete a layer before covering it to lay the next,” Mr Ciantar explained.

It is indeed a complicated process but Dr Ciantar stresses that all is being done using state-of-the -art techniques although he admits that waste remains undesirable for anyone living close by.

I asked how animal waste is being dumped and was told that at the moment the Government Veterinary is treating the waste of animals slaughtered for human consumption. This will be the process until a facility is set up by this veterinary authority in the near future.

What about waste separation of bulky refuse? “Sorting of bulky refuse is currently being done manually near the gates of Maghtab to remove any recyclable material and to crush bulky refuse prior to it being placed in the Ta’Zwejra facility. However, we expect to have a network of Civic Amenity sites all over the country where this process will be immensely facilitated,” says Dr Ciantar.

Recyclable waste from bring-in sites is being dealt with at Sant’ Antnin and will be extended when this plant is upgraded. None of this recyclable material ends up at the storage facility.

What about the situation regarding residents’ proximity to the landfill? “We understand and sympathise with those residents who are complaining due to operations being much closer to their area” says Dr Ciantar. “However, WasteServ met representatives and a number of suggestions have been made to minimise the impact.

“We are also in the process of rehabilitating the Maghtab mountain through a system of wells to exhaust the gases in the mountain. After this two-year process Maghtab may slowly be returned to beneficial use, a process that admittedly does take from 10-15 years,” says Dr Ciantar.

“We are doing our best to improve the situation in this area but it is not a process that will occur overnight,” Dr Ciantar concludes.

I was also told that the Environmental Impact Assessment on Ghallis is going on and WasteServ expect to conclude a geological study of the area in the very near future.