Environment Minister Aaron Farrugia has published a 'before and after' map showing the reduced amount of agricultural land that the Maghtab expansion project will take up.
On Wednesday, Farrugia said the new state of the art waste management facilities will be taking up a footprint of 82,000 square metres - 70% less than the previously planned 279,000 square metres.
The plans will see Wasteserv move all its facilities to a centralised location in Maghtab and see plans for the extension of the landfill shelved. The project includes a waste-to-energy facility.
Areas previously used by Wasteserv, including Wied Fulija in Zurrieq, Qortin in Gozo and St. Antnin in Marsascala, which add up to 170,000 square metres will be given back to the people in the form of green areas.
In a tweet, Farrugia said the government had taken note of the concerns of farmers and residents. "The biggest investment in waste management in Malta will take up 70% less land than previously proposed," he said, adding that more land will be given back to the public in the form of new green areas.