The Malta Independent 13 February 2025, Thursday
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Magħtab waste-to-energy project will have a net environmental benefit, says WasteServ CEO

Isaac Saliba Sunday, 26 January 2025, 08:00 Last update: about 18 days ago

The €600m Magħtab waste-to-energy facility will have a positive environmental impact on the surrounding area and be instrumental in moving away from outdated landfill management practices, WasteServ CEO Richard Bilocca stated in an interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday, citing the project's environmental impact assessment.

Bilocca was asked about his thoughts regarding concerns about the environment and quality of life raised by those living near Magħtab, where the facility, often referred to as an incinerator, is to be set up.

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The WasteServ CEO said that the environmental impact assessment was carried out by independent experts, and added that the study shows that the project met the highest standards and would deliver net environmental benefits to the surrounding area.

"My opinion isn't the focus here; not because I'm uninformed, but because there may be a perception of bias since I run the waste management company building these facilities. What matters are the positive findings from the Environmental Impact Assessment conducted by independent experts," Bilocca said.

He continued that the new plant will feature an advanced live monitoring system that can automatically shut down the facility if it detects any issues. He added that those interested in all aspects of WasteServ's projects can refer to the studies, which he reiterated already confirmed the plant's environmental benefits.

Bilocca (above) remarked that the waste-to-energy plant will be instrumental in helping Malta move away from the negative aspects associated with landfills, including the foul smells.

He commented that keeping in mind the "significant environmental impacts" associated with the project, delays over which bidder should be entrusted with its construction were ultimately a blow to the environment.

Having said that, he continued that once the plant is commissioned, the waste dumped at Magħtab will be producing 20 megawatts of green energy and resources in the form of aggregates and metals instead of being left to decompose for decades in landfills.

When asked to expand on the benefits of incineration compared with alternatives like landfills, Bilocca responded that waste management follows a hierarchy, with landfilling being the least desirable option and recycling being the most desirable.

"We recycle everything we can. Waste that can't be recycled will go to recovery, and only what cannot be recovered will end up in landfills... Today's facilities are designed to minimise the environmental impact. The waste processed in these plants is carefully controlled, with every truck inspected upon arrival."

He stated that one of the key differences between a landfill and a waste-to-energy plant is the speed of processing. "Waste that would take 40 years to decompose in a landfill would be processed within minutes in a waste-to-energy facility in a fully controlled way."

Additionally, he added that all emissions will be captured using advanced abatement equipment. "We use various state-of-the-art technologies that are proven and have been in operation for a long time - this gives you the scientific certainty the plant will function effectively."

Elsewhere in Europe, waste-to-energy plants have been commonplace for decades, Bilocca remarked. "In Malta, we discuss waste-to-energy plants as if they're a recent discovery," he said, continuing that countries like Norway, Denmark, France and others, were actively eliminating landfills.

Those countries, he continued, have plenty of land but still made the decision to avoid landfills. "Now, consider Malta, which is much smaller... landfills have caused significant environmental issues in very scenic place in our country, including Gozo's Qortin landfill and Wied Fulija in Żurrieq."

"WasteServ is committed to ensuring we leave our children with a robust infrastructure that doesn't simply postpone problems," Bilocca said, adding that significant progress had been made, thanks in large part to EU funding, to address past mistakes.

The WasteServ CEO commented that waste management had only recently gained significant attention and added that Malta will, with a capital investment of half a billion euros, have a state-of-the-art infrastructure.

"The public has also achieved record-breaking results in waste separation efforts, which is very encouraging," he commented. He said that household recycling figures had increased by 266% over the last 10 years, household black bag use decreased in total by 31.5%, and added that organic waste collection and conversion into energy are at the highest ever recorded levels.

Regarding the Magħtab rehabilitation project, the WasteServ CEO said that while the old landfill was now covered with numerous trees and had been closed since 2004, it remained highly active and unsafe to breathe life into the recreational activities proposed in the past.

"Thankfully, the technology and knowledge available for monitoring landfills today far surpass what was available 20 or 30 years ago. For instance, nowadays we conduct heat surveys using specialised equipment that maps the surface temperatures of Magħtab. These have revealed significant hotspots, indicating the site is not yet safe to transform into a park," he stated.

He referred to the Qortin and Wied Fulija landfills as successful examples of landfills which were able to be rehabilitated into parks or open spaces. He also mentioned the Zwejra landfill, commenting that despite opening in 2004, the gas activity of the landfill has already almost ceased. He remarked that contrary to the old Magħtab, the Zwejra landfill was a well-managed engineered landfill.

The WasteServ CEO concluded that in the meantime, WasteServ remains committed to continuing to drive Malta's environmental transition for a "better, greener future".


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