The Federation of Industry’s concerns on environment decisions are unwarranted, WasteServ Malta Ltd said.

Replying to a statement issued by the FOI with regard to the decision of have a special/difficult waste incinerator, WasteServ said the National Solid Waste Management Strategy – published in October 2001 after extensive consultation with all stakeholders – obliges WasteServ Malta Ltd to introduce a special/difficult waste incinerator as from 2002.

“Thus, it is quite distressing to note that the FOI did not express its concern towards the highly expensive waste disposal costs that the local industry and therefore, its members, are currently facing to export their hazardous waste, as this is the only way available to date to dispose of it legally,” WasteServ said.

The company said that at present the local manufacturing industry was paying for the treatment of hazardous waste while also paying the expensive export to a foreign country.

“WasteServ would have thought that the FOI would consider this significant freight cost reduction and doing away with the lengthy bureaucratic process to export as a positive way forward for its members.”

It added that the investment in the Civil Abattoir incinerator had a potential to treat all waste streams and would also recover energy.

“This should be considered as an opportunity not to be missed.”

As for the claims of lack of competition, “government and subsequently, WasteServ Malta Ltd have never ruled out the involvement of private enterprise in the waste management sector, and consequently it considers the comment in the press release as being unwarranted”.