The article entitled “Maghtab – a mountain of energy” contained a lot of confusion with regard to the Maghtab rehabilitation issue (TMIS, 10 May). This reply intends to clarify matters in order to continue with an informed discussion on the topic.
First of all, proper distinction needs to be made between the closed uncontrolled dump in the limits of Maghtab and the engineered landfill at Ghallis. The former was effectively closed by EU accession date, while the latter is engineered and is being managed according to relevant local and EU permits and directives.
With regard to the old dump situated at Maghtab, a long series of discussions had taken place in past years and the following is a short outline of what happened.
The site consists of a mixture of all the solid waste generated in Malta in the past and is covered with a large amount of inert waste, thus providing access to air. This means that there is continuous self-combustion of waste, which is mainly producing a mix of toxic gases.
Investigation of these sites revealed that intervention was needed in order to control and reduce the hazardous emissions and greenhouse gases from being released into the atmosphere.
The best solution was to allow natural internal degradation, collect the gases generated and treat the gases (through an RTO Plant already in place) before they are released into the atmosphere for all of us to breathe. Thus, this dump cannot be dismantled but simply needs time until all gases are captured and treated.
With regard to the series of proposed technologies in the article, WasteServ believes that there are different technologies suitable for different waste streams. The proposed waste-to-energy plant caters for a very particular waste stream known as RDF (Refuse-Derived Fuel) which includes contaminated plastic, paper, cardboard and timber which is not fit for recycling.
This has nothing to do with Maghtab, which is now closed and in the process of being rehabilitated for good.
Antonio Olivari D’Emanuele
Communications Officer
WasteServ Malta