Minister Charles Buhagiar inaugurates Waste Management Seminar

"Solutions to solve the problem of wastes disposal must be socially, financially and environmentally acceptable. These solutions must be based on two principles mainly that of reducing, reusing and recycling wastes and that of making the polluter pay".

Minister Charles Buhagiar said this at the opening of a seminar organised by the Malta Institute of Wastes Management and the Cleaner Technology Centre aimed to discuss "Waste Management in Small Island States."

Minister Buhagiar mentioned the problems existing at the Maghtab landfill and the outcome of the discussions being held to address these problems.

The following is the full text of his speech:

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN SMALL ISLAND STATES

SEMINAR - Tuesday, 22nd April 1997.

Mr. Chairman,

It is very appropriate that the Cleaner Technology Centre together with the Malta Institute for Waste Management are organising a seminar with the theme "Waste Management in Small Island States" at the time when government is striving to implement a waste management strategy which is applicable to our country.

Government realises that in a modern society the problem of wastes disposal is such that it can be considered to be another constraint to development, similar to the lack of adequate infrastructural services. For this reason we have to find solutions to this problem which are socially, financially and environmentally acceptable. Such solutions, as outlined in our electoral manifesto must be based on two principles.

To reduce, reuse and recycle wastes which in a country such as ours lacks mineral resources, has to be considered as a resource.

Application of the polluter pays principle.

In its first few months, government has already identified that our present solution for waste disposal, that is, the Maghtab Landfill is totally unacceptable since such a landfill is creating a large environmental eyesore in our landscape. Furthermore such a landfill which will be completely exhausted in the coming two/ three years, in no way encourages reduction of wastes.

A study of the wastes entering Maghtab indicate that about 85% of it by volume consist of building wastes. Therefore, to limit the spread of the Maghtab Landfill it is necessary to find other methods of disposal of building wastes.

Government has already embarked on a series of consultation meetings with all parties concerned including demolition and earth moving contractors, owners of quarries, local councils and environmental groups to try and find alternative solutions to this problem. During these discussions various ideas were put forward including the recycling (and possible reuse) of this type of waste, using such wastes for land reclamation purposes and disposing of this waste in disused quarries.

In the short term the most probable solution is that of disposing of building waste in disused quarries. With this in mind a committee has been formed to discuss proposed regulations for such an activity. This committee which is chaired by the Ministry of Public Works and Construction is composed of representatives from the Planning Authority, the GRTU which represents the quarry owners, the Environmental Protection Department, the Water Services Corporation and the Waste Management Strategy Implementation Department.

A draft set of regulations have been proposed by the Planning Authority and these regulations are being discussed, and it is planned that these are finalised within the coming four weeks. It is rather premature to go into the detail of these regulations but one may report on certain comments which have the consensus of all parties concerned.

Although it is being stated that building wastes are to be dumped into disused quarries a distinction has been made between recyclable wastes and non recyclable wastes. Recyclable waste is being defined as rock, stone and mass concrete, whilst non recyclable waste is mixed waste which may include materials such as clay and steel reinforcement.

A different price structure is being recommended for recyclable wastes and non recyclable wastes with recyclable wastes having a rate for dumping which is less than that for non recyclable wastes.

A similar rate for non recyclable wastes has to be applicable for dumping of wastes at Maghtab based on the polluter pays principle.

Government is to actively undertake the promotion of recycling building wastes, by, for example, specifying the use of such wastes in its construction contracts.

Strict enforcement has to be carried out to ensure that the practice of illegal dumping is controlled. Such enforcement has to be carried out both at the dumping sites (quarries) as well as on the transporters of the building wastes.

To enable a person to carry out such an activity a "change of use" permit would be required from the Planning Authority. Such a permit would be granted after adequate environmental and technical studies are carried out. Various alternatives are being studied to facilitate the processing of such applications.

Once these regulations are finalised and put into operation the Maghtab Landfill would be closed to building industry wastes. We hope that in this way we would be controlling this problem in the short and medium term. We also hope that such a solution would instill a culture of recycling and waste minimisation in all concerned.

Other types of waste would acquire different solutions. In the short term they will probably still be landfilled at Maghtab. For this reason, concurrently with the implementation of a strategy for building wastes we will be finalising a management plan for Maghtab.

It is our firm belief that we need to move quickly and pass from the phase of preparing studies to implementing solutions. The waste problem in our country has assumed huge proportions and is definitely one of the biggest threats to our environment. This applies not only to solid wastes but also to liquid wastes. In the latter case we have a programme so that within the coming five years we will have enough capacity in our sewage treatment plants to treat all our sewage.

Unless adequate measures are implemented our wastes problem will surely hinder our rate of development and the quality of life of our citizens.