Malta turns to hi-tech incineration to boost recycling rates

Europe – Plans to construct a state-of-the-art waste-to-energy facility at Maghtab in Malta have been announced by the country’s environment minister Jose Herrera. The cost of the project is Euro 120 million (US$ 150 million).

The 5000-square-metre incineration plant is scheduled to be up and running by 2023 and will be capable of processing 40% of the island nation’s waste. The facility is projected to generate approximately 70 000 MWh per year in treating 114 000 tonnes.

The new site will be funded through a public-private partnership based on moving grate combustion technology, according to Herrera. He hopes the incineration plant will help boost Malta’s low recycling rate from 15% to some 60% by 2030.

This is a ‘very positive’ development, according to Ella Stengler, managing director of the Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants. She hopes this major investment will finally allow Malta to reduce its bad landfilling habit. ‘It will take many years before Malta completely phases out dumping waste in the ground – but this is an ecouraging first step,’ she comments.