Every year, 300,000 tonnes of waste is landfilled, according to Environment Minister Aaron Farrugia.

Farrugia provided this information in Parliament, addressing a number of questions regarding waste and landfilling, which were asked by PN MP David Thake.

"The new waste management strategy is looking into this and will also include several measures that will continue on the reduce, re-use, recycle approach. We know that the economy of this country is growing and looking at the population, this too is growing and this must be addressed through the new energy plant."

Farrugia said that the new plant will have two lines, so that in the future, if there is a period when the plant is being used less then one can be turned off.

Thake asked Farrugia to provide details on the extension of the engineered landfill zone in the Maghtab complex.

Farrugia replied that the new engineered landfill is expected to hold 1,844,338 cubic metres of waste. Every year, approximately 300,000 tonnes of waste is landfilled; and when taking into consideration the volume of mandatory layers and capping, this adds to an average of 395,000 tonnes per year.

"This facility is expected to give us approximately 41 months of operational use. The investment will lead to a circular economy approach and this figure is expected to be substaintially extended."