Careful monitoring of chemical emissions and reduced amounts of burnt waste should somewhat diminish residents’ angst in relation to the WasteServ incinerator at Marsa.
An amended application in relation to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority’s Integrated Pollution, Prevention and Control (IPPC) regulations for the WasteServ incinerator, was approved by the MEPA board except for Dr Joe Brincat, at the end of a public hearing held yesterday at the MEPA premises.
WasteServ Malta Ltd issued a proposal for one incinerator used for abattoir and hazardous waste, including clinical waste, which would be the biggest in Europe. This proposal had to be revised by the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the IPPC.
According to the EIA report (EIS) issued yesterday, the original application had estimated that around 12,910 tonnes of animal waste would be burnt by the incinerator, but during yesterday’s hearing the figure was revised down to 3,460 tonnes.
The EIS report also stated that the condition for a disturbed archaeological sensitive area was subject to a bank guarantee to the value of Lm7,825.
Future monitoring had to be ensured in case of long-term cumulative impacts, followed by monitoring of Marsa’s air quality, the running cost of the incinerator, and the expansion of the incinerator, the EIS report said.
The hearing saw a disagreement between the IPPC committee and the WasteServ board, with regard to hydrochloride emissions by the incinerator. The IPPC board said it had based its measures on the HCL emissions according to the Best Available Techniques directives, while WasteServ had followed EU directives.
Concerns about the rate of carbon monoxide levels also arose. However, apprehensive measures related to this chemical were in fact included in the two amendments of the IPPC application.
Wasteserv CEO Vincent Magri, said that Mepa were being very restrictive in this aspect.
IPPC officer Ms Charmaine Vassallo, said that the expenditure of this amended application would reach a total of Lm42,000.