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5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 22 JANUARY 2025 NEWS KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt Non-recycled mixed waste decreased by 23% in 2022 and 2023: Miriam Dalli CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The new plans detailed in a visual impression presented by the Public Works Department a few days ago, show the inclu- sion of a bathing platform ac- cessible through a staircase and a ramp for people with mobili- ty issues. The platform will be located at the eastern edge of the new revetment structure. The construction of a rock revetment along the existing cliff-face at Għar Tal-Veċċa has been pending since 2022, when the first plans were pre- sented. These plans were subsequent- ly revised following objections from the Environment and Resources Authority, which warned against the obliteration of the cave. Revised plans were then submitted to protect the cave without covering it, pro- posing boulders in front of it. However, two sets of stair- cases that provided access to swimming platforms, which had been included in the first plans, were removed due to safety hazards. The architect cited the Wave Overtopping Manual, widely used in coastal engineering, which states that wave overtopping abatement structures should not be ac- cessed by the public. Residents in the area had ob- jected to these revised plans, as they would have rendered the cove inaccessible to swimmers. The spot is a popular swim- ming location. In a meeting held in Sep- tember last year, the Planning Commission requested the Public Works Department to amend the drawings to retain the proposed access stairs to the swimming deck on the left- hand side of the coast and to obtain the consent of the Com- mission for the Rights of Per- sons with Disability, which had objected to the plans. A project statement present- ed in 2023 warned that wave action from north-eastern storms was damaging the ex- isting infrastructure along this stretch of coastline. "The combination of friable rock formation and wave ac- tion poses a significant threat to buildings located near the coast, which are now at risk of toppling over due to the scour at the toe of the cliff," the re- port stated. According to the same doc- ument, the cave is composed of very friable upper-coralline limestone. The attenuation of wave action by erecting the boulders would decrease the rate of erosion on the cave during severe storms, there- by increasing the safety of third-party properties and the road sitting directly over the cave—both of which are at risk of collapsing if the cave erodes further into the sea. Public safety concerns in- creased in 2016 when a nine- year-old girl was badly injured after being hit by falling rocks. The plans also follow a surge of construction activity in the area, including a permit issued in 2019 for the development of 24 dwelling units and two of- fices with underlying garages, constructed on seven levels above street level and three levels below. An application for a nine-storey hotel on an existing terrace overlook- ing the bay was withdrawn in February after ERA expressed concern related to the stability of the cave. New Vecca plans include bathing platform with ramp for people with mobility issues THE Maltese government has reported substantial progress in waste management, with a no- table reduction in non-recycled waste and increases in organic and recyclable waste collection between 2022 and 2023. Preliminary data revealed that non-recycled mixed waste de- creased by 23% during this period. Tabling the information in reply to a parliamentary question by Opposition MP Eve Borg Bonel- lo on Tuesday, the Environment Minister said the collection of or- ganic waste rose by over 30%, and recyclable waste collection saw an approximate 45% increase. Miriam Dalli attributed these results to ongoing reforms and investments, emphasising the public's role in achieving these milestones. Measures such as harmonised waste collection schedules across localities, legal requirements for waste separa- tion, and differentiated landfill fees have contributed to these im- provements, she said. Key initiatives included the launch of the "Bring Your Own Container" (BYOC) scheme in April 2024, with over 290 estab- lishments participating, encour- aging the use of reusable contain- ers. Smart waste depots were also piloted in Gozo to enhance com- mercial waste separation. Infrastructural advancements have been pivotal, according to the minister, with a €40,000-ca- pacity Multi-Material Recovery Facility operational since 2023 and a glass separation facility in Sant'Antnin facility processing 52,000 bottles per hour. She insisted the opening of four Re-Use Centres further supports the circular economy by extend- ing the life cycle of products. The environment minister said government has invested signif- icantly in public cleaning and waste treatment infrastructure, spending over €70 million in 2022, €66 million in 2023, and an anticipated €67 million in 2024. Projects include a €200 million Waste-to-Energy Plant and a planned 74,300-tonne capacity organic waste processing facility. Dalli stated that these initiatives aim to provide Malta with a holis- tic and sustainable waste manage- ment system.