Despite animal waste emergency, Gozo objectors could stop new facility

Livestock farmers flushing away animal waste into the sewer system is a real problem, but a Gozo facility that could solve this is being recommended for refusal

The private facility wants to convert animal waste into packaged pellets that would be exported, and to also re-use and polish any liquids from the waste for irrigation water.
The private facility wants to convert animal waste into packaged pellets that would be exported, and to also re-use and polish any liquids from the waste for irrigation water.

A Gozo facility to recycle livestock manure in Xlendi is being recommended for refusal by the Planning Authority’s planning directorate, because its location is not ideal for a waste treatment facility.

The private facility wants to convert animal waste into packaged pellets that would be exported, and to also re-use and polish any liquids from the waste for irrigation water.

But the new facility on Triq Zghawri in Xlendi, has created quite an uproar in the locality, attracting nearly 400 objections including that of the Munxar local council and the Nationalist Party.

A final decision in the project will be taken on 28 September.

The case officer report confirms that current disposal practices by livestock farmers are not desirable and raise “major concern”.

“The material cannot be flushed away into the domestic sewer system, as it will cause damage to the system, and also may cause blockages in the network.”

The report also says that when untreated material ends up in the sea and it has a detrimental effect on the marine environment.

The case officer dismissed concerns that the project will result in more traffic in the village core of Munxar, noting that there will be no significant change in the number of bowsers passing through the built-up area.

The 4,800sq.m site in Munxar earmarked for the facility already includes a bovine farm. The farm will be in the vicinity of eight existing dairy farms altogether contributing 45% of Gozitan dairy production, reducing the need to transport the waste on Gozitan main roads.

28 out of 34 Gozitan livestock farms have signed formal agreements with Tenaga regarding the management of their animal slurry.

“Should this project be refused the farmers cooperating on this project will face a serious problem since now regulations are more stringent. Unless long-term solutions are applied most of the farm may face closure of their activity and business,” Marco Cachia, a representative of the company told MaltaToday.

Cachia described the project as “the most viable and feasible proposition presented in the last years.”

“It is a long-term solution which applies the reuse concept instead of discarding this waste.”

But according to the PA case officer’s report, the proposed farm effluent processing plant is considered to be “excessive in a rural area and should be located in a waste treatment facility.” The case officer suggests that this can be located near the civic amenity site currently in operation at Tal-Kus in Xewkija.

Tenega says that an alternative site next to the sewage treatment plant at Ras il-Hobz had been considered, but according to Cachia the Veterinary Regulation Division and the Department of Agriculture did not approve this site due to contamination fears.

Cachia also disagrees with the case officer’s description of the project as a “a waste treatment plant” as the process is an integral part of farming activity and requirements imposed on farmers by law.

The Environmental Health Directorate has also objected to the reuse of the water derived from the process for irrigation purposes. Cachia insists his company will abide with any directive issued by the Environmental Health Directorate while pointing out that the WSC is also deriving new water from sewage. “Tenaga will be prepared to follow the same Directive and guidelines in producing this effluent water.”

One of the main concerns of the project’s objectors relates to smell. When asked why his company has not presented an odour report addressing this issue, Cachia replied that mitigation measures were presented in their project development statement.

These mitigation measures include a carbon filtration system which will “drastically reduce odours over and above that of any other farm in the vicinity”. But Cachia claims the results of any odour report would be inconclusive unless the facility is already operating.