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4 NEWS JAMES DEBONO REPORT also expresses con- cern on overdevelopment highlighting the impacts of the current Petrol Stations policy, welcomes improve- ments in air quality. A gradually increasing land- fill tax would help to divert waste from landfills, an En- vironmental Implementation Review issued by the Directo- rate-General for Environment of the European Commission suggests. The revenues from this tax, together with a better alloca- tion of EU Cohesion Funds, could support the investment needs supporting the imple- mentation of the waste man- agement targets. Landfill taxes are applied in other countries with the aim of redusing landfilled waste. In the UK a landfill tax of £88.95 is levied on each tonne of landfilled waste. The report cites data from from 2017 showing that with 86%, the landfilling rate is more than three times the EU average of 24%. The recycling rate is only 6%, far below the EU average of 46% and the 2020 target of 50%. Compost- ing in Malta is practically non-existent (compared to an EU average of 17 %). Malta currently has two me- chanical and biological man- agement facilities (MBT) to treat mixed household waste in Malta. The second facility, built with the support of the EU Cohesion Funds, started to operate in 2016. Untreated residual waste and non-recy- cled outputs from MBT facili- ties are disposed of in Malta's managed landfill. The organic fraction is treated through anaerobic digestion and gen- erates electricity while the residue of the process is used as a landfill cover. But to meet EU targets, Malta will need to invest fur- ther in the necessary infra- structure. The report notes that new infrastructure is in the pipeline. This includes a new Material Recovery Facil- ity following the fire at Sant' Antnin Plant, a multi material recovery facility and a waste to energy plant to treat that part of the waste collection that is not recyclable. The report also calls on the government to ensure that the new waste to energy plant proposed at Maghtab which is set for completion for 2023 "is planned with the future re- cycling targets and waste pre- vention efforts in mind". The report welcomes the introduction of an organic waste collection adding that this is "expected to provide a positive contribution to re- cycling rates and divert more waste away from landfill". Report concerned by Fuel station policy The report also describes "over development" as a "pressing environmental is- sue" contributing "loss of biodiversity, natural land- scapes, and agricultural land." According to the report the largest sprawl was registered between 2006 and 2009. But it also notes that the current property boom is increasing pressures on both used and virgin land. Given Malta's limited land area and its high population density, the report highlights the importance of limiting the environmental footprint of infrastructure develop- ments and "to avoid duplica- tion whenever possible". It also notes that when fac- toring in the ever-increasing number of tourists visiting the islands annually (2.3 mil- lion in 2017), " the country's resources are steadily becom- ing strained". The report also expresses concern on the "current Mal- tese Fuel Stations policy". The report notes that these petrol stations "come with ancillary facilities such as auto shops and cafés, deemed necessary to make the pro- jects economically viable". "The concentration of these service stations in close prox- imity to each other may nega- tively impact the environ- ment," the commission warns. Improvement in air quality The report describes air quality in Malta to be "good" welcoming a decreasing trend in the emissions of several air pollutants between 1990 and 2016. But it also cites Euro- pean Environment Agency estimates that more than 240 premature deaths in 2015 were attributable to air pol- lution. There is also a risk that air pollution across the EU is be- ing underestimated " because it may not always be moni- tored in the right places". Member States are required to report both real-time and validated air quality data to the Commission but accord- ing to the report Malta's re- porting of air quality data has been at several occasions de- layed in the past years. maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 10 APRIL 2019 Internal Security Fund (Borders & Visas) 2014 – 2020 This Tender is part-financed by the European Union Co-financing rate: 75% EU Funds 25% Beneficiary Funds Sustainable Management of Internal Security MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE PROMOTION The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion wishes to notify that the following tender has been published: TMFA 002/2019: EX-POST EVALUATION OF INTERNAL SECURITY FUNDS (ISF) (2014-2020) PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED BY THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE PROMOTION Economic Operators are invited to submit their offers on the Electronic Public Procurement website on https:\\www.etenders.gov.mt by not later than 30th April 2019 at 09:30am Interested parties are invited to attend a clarification meeting that shall be held at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion, Palazzo Parisio, Merchants Street, Valletta on Monday 15 April at 10:00am An electronic copy of the document, including the submission forms and relative conditions can be downloaded free of charge from the EPPs website https:\\www.etenders.gov.mt Commission suggests landfill tax for Malta DAVID HUDSON A total of 22 projects are planned to enhance "green spaces" as part of govern- ment's drive to balance out the construction frenzy, Ian Borg said. The Infrastructure Min- ister said €4 million will be invested in the projects that will be carried out in 12 lo- calities. The money will come from the Planning Au- thority's development plan- ning fund. "These green space projects will balance out the increas- ing development that, while helpful, needs to be sustain- able," Borg said. He noted that the decision was the result of pressure put on government by local councils to embellish regions across the island. "The many planning per- mits for hotels, residences and complexes may be a cause of inconvenience, so this fund will motivate posi- tive projects that will balance out heavy infrastructure and create green spaces," Borg said. He was speaking at the Sirens Aquatic Club in St Paul's Bay that will too see a major regeneration thanks to the planning fund. The regeneration of the Si- rens water polo club include a new pool, an indoor pool and a gymnasium for a total investment of €2.6 million. Of these, €2.2 million will be granted by the planning fund. John Farrugia, vice-presi- dent of the club said that the Sirens water polo pool had previously been the largest swimming pool after the na- tional pool. "This is the largest swim- ming club, with 350 persons in the Sirens nursery," he said, adding that the pool has now been in a state of decay for quite some time. Chairperson of the plan- ning and development fund, Vince Cassar, said this is the first time that the fund was contributing to a project re- lated to sports. "We have opened the way for organisations that aren't local councils to submit their proposals to apply for funds," he said, adding that this was also the first time that a con- tract was being signed with a private entity, a sports club, rather than a local council. Cassar announced that the fund still had €29 million in available funds and he en- couraged entities to apply for funding. The fund promotes im- provement and embellish- ment works in urban areas, such as landscaping, traf- fic management and other urban projects which are considered beneficial to the wider community. Parliamentary Secretary for Planning, Chris Agius, Par- liamentary Secretary for Lo- cal Government, Silvio Paris, and Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, Clifton Grima, also attended. The contract between the fund and the Sirens Aquatic Sports Club was signed on site. Cheques were also distrib- uted to the local councils of Birkirkara, Attard, Dingli, Hamrun, Marsaxlokk, Mo- sta, Pembroke, St Julian's, Sannat, Santa Lucia, Sig- giewi, and Sliema for their respective projects. 'Green space' projects planned for 12 localities the Sirens waterpolo pitch is in a disastrous state but plans for a €2.6 million regeneration are in hand

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