Herrera agrees with Muscat’s stance on construction waste dumping at sea, but does not think it will need to happen

Environment Minister Jose Herrera agrees with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s decision to consider dumping construction waste at sea, but does not actually think that this will be necessary.

Prime Minister Muscat said on during a meeting with the Malta Developer’s Association on Wednesday that the government was looking at the possibility of dumping construction waste in designated areas at sea, such as Hurd’s Bank.

Asked by The Malta Independent about the prime minister’s remarks, Herrera noted that the dumping of inert construction waste at sea was always an alternative, adding that the practice was used ‘without any care’ for projects such as Smart City and the expansion of the Mġarr port in Gozo.

He said that the prime minister did not say that the government would definitely start dumping construction waste into the sea, but that it was an alternative which, in the hypothetical situation where there is nowhere to dispose of this waste, must be considered.

He said that he, too, had considered this and spoken to Muscat about it, adding that they were both on the same wavelength in that if, within the next few months, there is no available space to dispose of said construction waste, then the procedure would have to be considered.

If this eventuality is reached, he said, it will be done with care and under the watchful eye of the Environment and Resources Authority, and waste will be separated and chosen to be placed in areas which are indicated only by them.

However, the minister has faith that the situation will not reach this point.

He said that the government is going to be taking drastic measures to make sure that there are enough places to dispose of construction waste, and noted that a survey is taking place across Malta and Gozo to take stock of all the quarries that there are leased out and not being used, especially the government’s.

“I am not confiscating quarries; I am taking volumes, working them, and giving compensation to the person with the title. Those who do not agree with that can go to a magistrate and fix a price there,” he said.

He also cited land reclamation as another potential solution for construction waste, noting that Prime Minister Muscat had “hit the nail on the head” with his vision for what land reclamation should be.

He said that the absolute priority for land reclamation should be the environment, even though it may still include certain minor economic aspects.