A big challenge with practical results

The Minister for the Environment, Dr. Francis Zammit Dimech said that the Environment Protection Act 2001 came into effect last month. The objective of this Act is to protect and manage the environment in a sustainable manner. Its provisions have been formulated in such a manner as to ensure that equilibrium between the protection of the environment and development is achieved through the inclusion of rights and duties that strike a proper balance of interests. The Minister was addressing architecture and civil engineering students at the Ospizio School Hall, in Floriana.

Francis Zammit Dimech said that a major feature in this law is the setting up of a National Commission for Sustainable Development, which shall be appointed and chaired by the Prime Minister and co-chaired by the Minister for the Environment. He said that this Commission has the following objectives:

• To review how far sustainable development is being achieved in Malta in all relevant fields, and identify any relevant processes or policies which may be undermining this;
• To identify important unsustainable trends which will not be reversed on the basis of current or planned action, and recommend action to reverse the trends;
• To deepen understanding of the concept of sustainable development, increase awareness of the issues it raises, and build agreement on them;
• To encourage and stimulate good practice in the use and management of natural resources.

The Minister for the Environment said that membership in the Commission shall be representative of both government and civil society with appointees from Ministries and departments, public bodies, political parties, Non-Government organizations, business and other interest groups representing different sectors of society.

Francis Zammit Dimech said that the European Commissioner for the Environment, Ms. Margot Wallström has called sustainable development "a new vision for Europe". He said that sustainable development is concerned with the welfare of both present and future generations. Thus one should not only consider the short-term benefits of sustainable development but should take into consideration its long-term benefits.

The Minister for the Environment said that the Society of Architecture and Civil Engineering Students (SACES) is exploring sustainable architecture and practical opportunities to discover new ways of building greener, eco-friendlier buildings, maximizing natural sunlight, energy saving devices such as the use of solar heaters, using of innovative materials, preferably recycled ones.

Francis Zammit Dimech said that last week the Ministry for the Environment published the "Solid Waste Management Strategy for the Maltese Islands". He said that among the actions and measures that are to be taken next year is the establishment of the ‘Recycled Building Materials Working Party". He said that this working party will be created to act as a forum for regular communication, decision-making and agreement among the main interest groups within the quarrying and construction industry. The Strategy states that "the Working Party, which will be formed under the auspices of the Building Industry Consultative Council (BICC), besides representatives of the BICC itself, will also include representatives from:

1. Relevant Government bodies e.g. Ministry for the Environment, Planning Authority, Malta Resources Authority, Environment Protection Authority, Malta Standards Authority.
2. A ‘Producer Responsibility Group" representing the main waste producers, and producers and suppliers of construction material.

The Strategy envisages that "the principal tasks of the Working Party, primarily aimed to recover and recycle materials from excavation, demolition and construction wastes will be to:

• Undertake a proper evaluation of the quarrying and construction quantities and thereafter confirm or re-establish the reduction, recovery and recycling targets for this waste stream;
• Identify what materials and from which specific wastes that can be recovered and/or reused and/or recycled, and for which applications;
• Ensure that a regular supply of source segregated feedstock is kept;
• Provide advice to the Waste Management Services Agency for the setting up of a facility to receive, store and process such wastes, and produce recycled products/materials that meet recognized standards and specifications;
• Encourage and provide means of research into developing/discovering recycling/recovery methods/products suitable for requirements;
• Establish the standards and specifications that permit the use of recycled products/materials in various applications;
• Create widespread awareness of recycled building products/materials and their potential applications;
• Establish standards and specifications that permit the disposal of excavated rock into the sea.

Francis Zammit Dimech said that the Government intends to utilize its collective power as a developer and as a client for construction works to promote changes in existing practices with the overall aim of reducing the volume of this waste stream requiring disposal, and expanding the use of recycled materials.