Environment Minister Leo Brincat has hinted that exporting Malta’s waste for incineration might be the best option, given that the country’s Refuse Derived Fuels (RDF) are contaminated by impurities and can lead to a greated environmental health risk if incinerated in Malta.

Earlier this year the government commissioned a €1 million study to determnine the best options for Malta’s waste management system, specifically whether to incinerate it locally or export it.

Speaking at a round table on deriving energy from waste, which was held at the Exchange Buildings in Valletta, Mr Brincat said the government should seriously measure the economic and environmental effects when planning ahead on deriving energy from waste. This should be based on independent studies carried out by people with no agendas or commercial interests. The government will be utilising EU funds to conduct these studies.

Malta is also studying how viable it is to export waste to third countries. This might be beneficial since a number of countries that derive energy fom waste, faced with short supplies, have reduced their commercial incineration rates. Countries like the UK ara increasingly exporting their waste while others, like Germany, the Netherlands, France and Scandinavian countries are increasingly importing waste, particularly from southern countries.

Mr Brincat said much of Malta’s RDF is contaminated by impurities, potentially posing a bigger risk if it is incinerated locally. “We would be erring if we blindly implement models used by other countries without considering what effects they might have on our country.”

The Minister announced that a significant number of foreign companies had shown interest in Malta’s waste sector but not all had passed the preliminary due-diligence tests. Some lesser-known companies tried to take advantage of inexperienced intermediaries.

Mr Brincat said that if and when the governments decides on its waste strategy, after studies are completed next year, it will ensure that the awarding process will be fully transparent. And the minister will be insisting that only companies that are willing to invest directly, instead of making use of intermediaries and middle-men, apply. The applictant’s  track records will also be a determining factor.

Mr Brincat said that, while the government should not close its eyes to new technologies, it also has a duty to ensure that Malta is not used as some sort of guniea pig to experiment on, with potential negative effects on our ennvironmental health and tax-payer money.