PA will give priority to direct action in cases of illegal dumping
The Planning Authority (PA) will be giving priority to direct action where illegal dumping of construction waste is the cause of environmental damage, a spokesperson has told The Malta Independent.
The PA was contacted by this newsroom after photos emerged on social media of suspected dumping of construction waste in the Taż-Żwejt area in San Ġwann. The spokesperson has clarified that the site is covered by a licence for an old batching plant which includes the recycling of construction material; however, the authority is carrying out further investigations to determine whether the licence conditions are being respected.
For issues relating to developments taking place after 2012, the daily fines imposed are calculated in accordance with the Daily Penalties Schedule in Legal Notice 276 of 2012 and are applied according to the category of the infringement. These range from a minor infringement with a fine amounting to €4 daily for the first 50 days and rising to €25 daily after a year, to a major infringement starting from €10 daily for the first 50 days and rising to €50 daily after a year.
The Planning Authority has the right to use the Emergency Enforcement Provisions if there is an imminent danger to the environment, and the ability to remove the illegal waste and charge the contravener all related charges.
Asked whether the it planned to increase enforcement against dumping, such as had been seen with construction illegalities and the Building Regulations Office, the spokesperson said that the PA had sought to address the cause of illegal dumping – the lack of space for legal disposal of construction work.
“The PA has taken action to open a disused quarry in Siġġiewi to provide a site where construction waste can be legally disposed of. Nonetheless, the PA is also targeting cases where illegal dumping is the cause of environmental damage and direct action on such cases have been given priority. Dumping and illegal scrap yards are always a priority for the authority,” he said.
The Times of Malta recently reported how skip operators had begun to warn of a potential construction waste crisis due to the shrinking number of dumping sites. The environment ministry said it was working with the Environment Resource Authority to assess a number of interim measures.