The engineered landfill which will be developed at Ghallis following the green light given by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority yesterday, is a confirmation that all of Malta’s waste will not end up at the Sant’Antnin recycling plant in Marsascala, the government said.

In a statement, the government said the development of the engineered landfill, which is expected to involve an investment in the region of Lm3.5 million, will result in the improvement of waste management facilities in Malta.

Following the closure of the Maghtab rubbish dump in April 2004, WasteServ Malta Ltd, on behalf of the government, developed a temporary landfill in Ta’ Zwejra. The technologies used in this temporary landfill will be the same which will be used in the larger one approved yesterday.

The engineered landfill at Ghallis shows that the government had never planned to transport all of Malta’s municipal waste to the Sant’Antnin plant. The government criticised those who tried, during the past months, to take political advantage of this claim which was simply misinformation. The government concluded by urging everyone to support an initiative which will, ultimately, improve waste management facilities in Malta in the country’s best interest and that of future generations.