Wasteserv welcomed the onerous conditions imposed by Mepa for its Sant’Antnin IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention Control) project, and it said it will work incessantly to continue to improve its operations to reduce as much as possible its impact on the local community.

In a statement, Wasteserv said that some articles in the media however, may have misreported the content giving rise to concerns on dioxins release. Dioxins are environmental pollutants with deadly consequences to human health. Such reporting, however, merits some rectifications to ensure that the correct information is portrayed to the public.

The RTO (Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer) at Sant’Antnin mentioned in the press is designed to treat the exhaust air from the halls where the company’s employees handle the waste. It is pertinent to note that this equipment was never commissioned by the contractor since inception in 2010. Nonetheless, the company takes upon itself to have the RTO commissioned within the stipulated six month period granted on the permit itself.

Meanwhile, it is equally important to note the following:

·         Dioxin emissions from waste treatment plants occur when mixed solid waste is incinerated.

·         Waste incineration is considered to be one of the principal sources of atmospheric dioxin in Europe.

·         There is NO incineration process at Sant’Antnin and therefore no dioxins! Regular air monitoring surveys carried out by independent contractors and forwarded to MEPA confirm this. Incineration is ONLY carried out at the Marsa Thermal Treatment Facility and is limited to abattoir and clinical wastes, not mixed solid wastes.  Regular emission tests at the MTTF ALSO confirm the absence of dioxin.

·         Air Monitoring results both external and internal, (including Health and Safety inspections) indicate that air quality in these halls and outside is safe.

·         Had dioxin been present there would also have been a high and evident casualty rate among the exposed workers.

·         Contrary to what the article implies, RTO is not an adequate treatment for dioxin elimination.   Had RTO been adequate to eliminate dioxin down to safe levels the global objections to waste incinerators would be resolved.

·         The RTO at Sant’Antnin would therefore handle odour issues rather than environmental health issues. 

·         As part of its odour mitigation efforts, WSM is also considering various absorbent technologies as an alternative to the RTO.  Other measures that have already been implemented have considerably reduced odour emissions from SAWTP as will be evident to Marsascala residents.

In conclusion, the company reassures readers that no dioxins are being released and will continue to strive to enhance operations to minimize the negative impacts as much as possible.