WasteServ considering exporting recycling material abroad
WasteServ CEO Tonio Montebello told The Malta Independent that they are considering exporting recycling material in order to ensure that recycling targets are met, following the fire at the Sant’ Antnin plant earlier this year.
Currently, the grey bags, used for recycling, are being taken to the Malta North plant following the fire at the Sant’ Antnin Waste Treatment plant last May. The damage was located in the area where recyclables were sorted. The fire occurred on 22nd May this year and lasted until the 23rd.
The operation included many fire engines and members of CPD as well as voluntary corps organisation members. The operation consisted of three phases. The first phase ensured that the fire was under control, the second phase saw CPD officials fight the fire throughout the night, and the third phase consisted of putting out the rest of the fire and ensuring that the material would not rekindle the fire.
Thus far, the structure of the shed there has been removed, he said, and WasteServ has commissioned tests on the material which was burned, to check whether it is categorised as Hazardous waste. “If it is, we would need to export it out of Malta as Hazardous waste. There is a procedure to follow. At this stage we are using the Malta North plant, having made arrangements for the grey bag to be sent there.” He does not have a time frame as to when the Sant Antnin plant would again begin handling the grey bag. Montebello noted that the Malta North plant (a Mechanical and Biological treatment Plant) was not designed for the grey bag but for the black bag, and thus there is an impact on operations. He is looking into other options as the results there, while not bad, are not great.
One option, he said, includes possibly shipping the material abroad to be recycled at a Material Recycling Facility. After looking at the options he will decide whether the recycling bags should still be handled by the Malta North Plant till a new plant is built, or to export. He said that currently there is a slight backlog when it comes to recycling, but not a big one.
While the Mechanical and Biological treatment Plant is still in operation at the Sant Antnin Plant, the reason why the Malta North Plant is being used for the grey bag is that it is more modern and has different, more advanced equipment. “This includes infrared sorters which can automatically check what kind of plastic the material has.”
Asked whether the cause of the fire is known, he said that the inquiry is still ongoing, but that it was probably an accident.
Currently, the grey bags, used for recycling, are being taken to the Malta North plant following the fire at the Sant’ Antnin Waste Treatment plant last May.