Glass collected from bring-in sites around Malta and Gozo will be recycled and incorporated as crushed waste in the sub-base layer underneath the asphalt as was shown yesterday in a demonstration, in Naxxar, organised by the Urban Development and Roads Ministry and Rural Affairs and Environment Ministry.
The demonstration was organised as part of a week-long series of activities to celebrate and create awareness about Environment Week.
Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino said that between January and April this year, 263 tons of glass were collected from the 240 bring-in sites around Malta and Gozo, as opposed to the 550 tons that were collected in all of 2006.
“More and more people are using the bring-in sites as can easily be seen in these figures. Almost half of last year’s total amount was collected in the first four months of this year,” said Mr Pullicino.
He appealed to the local councils which still did not have bring-in sites to set them up in their locality.
“The citizens have a right to have a bring-in site in their locality and it is the duty of the local councils to provide them,” said Mr Pullicino.
He said that at least 40 tons of glass would be used in every 100 metres of subsoil and that this system would be used after several tests were completed.
The minister added that the ADT was carrying out tests that would eventually lead to crushed glass being used in the asphalt layer.
Malta Transport Authority (ADT) official Joe Briffa explained that the subsoil layer, which is about six to eight inches thick, is made up of 20 per cent broken glass and gravel.
He said that the water absorption rate of crushed waste glass was very low and glass was less susceptible to varying moisture levels.
Furthermore, waste glass crushed to below 12.5mm did not cause a greater cut or penetration hazard than fractured primary aggregate.
ADT CEO Gianfranco Selvaggi explained that the ADT would issue guidelines on the incorporation of glass in the subsoil that would be included in the tenders for road construction.
“The Park and Ride area is covered with a layer of asphalt that has crushed glass,” he said.
In fact, the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Malta was carrying out tests that would eventually lead to crushed glass being incorporated in concrete, added Mr Pullicino.
He pointed out that Malta did not produce large enough volumes of used glass to recycle it on the island.
“The expense involved in sending it abroad for recycling is very high. Transport costs alone for a 20-foot container add up to Lm400 and then there are more expenses involved for treatment,” he said.
Mr Pullicino also suggested that the ADT explore the use of other materials, such as tyres, in asphalt.
“Thanks to the eco-contribution, tyres are no longer dumped at the Ghallis landfill. These are recycled and converted to rubber, copper and fluff,” he said.
Urban Development and Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett said the government was committed to improving the urban infrastructure while not causing any harm to the environment.
He added that the ADT was incorporating the concept of green procurement in other areas, including street lighting.
Last October, the authority implemented a pilot project that made use of energy efficient street lamps in St Andrews that saved up to 90 per cent of the energy consumption for normal street lighting, he said.