The Ombudsman and the Commissioner for Environment and Planning conduct an informative visit to WasteServ
Published January 30, 2024
The Parliamentary Ombudsman, Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon, along with Perit Alan Saliba, the Commissioner for Environment and Planning, conducted an informative visit to WasteServ. This visit was part of an ongoing communication between the Office of the Ombudsman and WasteServ, aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the company’s operations, projects, and waste management initiatives.
WasteServ, a government-owned limited liability company, falls under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman. It is tasked with organising, managing, and operating integrated waste management systems across Malta.
The delegation was welcomed at WasteServ’s ECOHIVE Complex in Magħtab by Mr Richard Bilocca, CEO of WasteServ. During the visit, Mr Bilocca led a two-hour comprehensive tour of Malta’s waste management infrastructure. He guided the Ombudsman and the Commissioner through various facility sections, covering aspects from waste separation to project planning and developmental stages at the ECOHIVE Complex. He elaborated on the initiatives undertaken in waste management and energy generation from waste.
Mr Bilocca highlighted that the implementation of mandatory waste separation and differentiated gate fees incentivising waste separation is bearing fruit, with noticeable increases across all waste streams. He reiterated WasteServ’s commitment to steering Malta’s waste management sector towards an era defined by the circular economy principles, affirming that this mission is well on track.
A detailed tour of a new automated material recovery facility was provided during the visit. This facility processes 100% of grey and green recyclable collection bags generated in Malta and Gozo. The new facility has drastically improved processing efficiency. The delegation also saw the power generation infrastructure that currently converts all organic waste collected in Malta into renewable energy. The landfill infrastructure within the ECOHIVE complex was also part of the visit.
The Commissioner for Environment and Planning, Perit Alan Saliba, noted with satisfaction the landfill mining studies being carried out by WasteServ at the Żwejra landfill within the complex, which will result in the removal of the dumped material and the excavation of the site to make way for a longer-lasting landfill whilst at the same time making use of the excavated material being extracted without the further take-up of additional footprint.
The Ombudsman, Judge Zammit McKeon, emphasised the significance of such visits, noting that they provide invaluable insights into the initiatives and projects to help Malta meet its EU-imposed waste management targets. He also called for heightened awareness and proactive involvement from the public and private sectors, underscoring the collective responsibility to achieve these goals.
