AFM called in after explosives found dumped in recyclables bag

Explosives dumped in grey/green bag collection last week endangered the lives of WasteServ employees and lead to the disposal of 140 tonnes of recyclable waste, WasteServ said on Wednesday.

WasteServ called in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit of the Armed Forces of Malta to assist it in safely removing and neutralising the hazardous materials.

“As a precautionary measure, and in light of the danger posed by the discovered material, a total of 140 tonnes of good recyclable material had to be quarantined and then disposed of in the landfill,” Wasteserv added.

The agency condemned this “gross negligence” and appealed to the public to be responsible. 

“Situations such as these not only put our employees’ lives at risk but pose a serious threat to operations and new infrastructure,” it added.

Wasteserv explained how the incident could have had far more serious consequences, especially considering the presence of highly flammable materials such as paper, plastic, and cardboard. 

“It is essential that hazardous waste, including flares, batteries, electronic equipment, and other highly flammable or explosive materials, are disposed of properly to prevent similar incidents in the future,” WasteServ said.

The agency reminded the public that such materials can be safely disposed of at one of the Civic Amenity Sites.

“As WasteServ, we are working tirelessly towards meeting the country’s recycling targets. However, we want to emphasise that our success is highly dependent on the cooperation of the public. Above all else, our company prioritises the safety of its employees and its infrastructure,” it said.