PL attacks PN for not taking part in waste to energy project committee

The PN's decision not to take part in the technical committee appointed to evaluate technology use in the process that will lead to waste being turned into energy is to be condemned, the PL said in a statement yesterday.

The government is to introduce a waste to energy scheme, with a committee given a deadline for the end of the year to present a final proposal, Environment Minister Jose Herrera announced yesterday. The project is expected to cost between €100 million to €150 million and will take six to seven years to complete. The minister revealed that PN spokesperson for the Environment Karol Aquilina had informed him that the Opposition declined to form part of the committee

The PL called waste one of the biggest challenges faced by the country, saying that the PN chose to play partisan politics by being negative on this sub- ject.

At the very least, the PN should have taken the chance to offer their opinions on the matter given that the government is talking about new solutions and extended its hand in friendship for national agreement, the PL said.

The committee will be made up of the following individuals: Chairman of CEO of WasteServ Tonio Montebello; Kevin Gatt from the Ministry for the Environment, Kevin Mercieca from the ERA; Alfred Mifsud, Alex Sciberras, Prof. Edward Mallia and Mario Galea de Giovanni

Foreign experts from the EU commission will also be giving their input.

Waste to energy technology recovers the energy found in materials, typically through an incinerator or combustion. It has been implemented in some European countries with resounding success.