CF 119: Setting up of a Mechanical and Biological Treatment Plant in the North of Malta

The primary objective of this project was to increase the treatment capacity for mixed municipal waste and thus contribute to the achievement of targets imposed by EU Directives.

The objectives of the Malta North Plant within Malta’s waste management system role is:
- to  process mixed municipal waste in a manner which reduces the landfilling of waste, especially of biodegradable waste;
- to provide for separation of bulky waste in a bid to increase recycling and reduce landfilling;
- to contribute to an overall improvement in waste management practices in the Maltese Islands.

As a result of the setting up of the MBT plant in the Northern part of Malta, it is estimated that an average total of 73,359 tonnes of mixed waste together with 42,617  tonnes of bulky waste will be treated per annum thus contributing towards achieving 77.31% of the total amount of waste to be treated as targeted in Operational Programme I. This technology is expected to reduce landfilling to 58% of the original mass in the case of mixed waste with the remainder being transformed into mainly digestate for landfill covering, biogas and losses. Rejects from the MTP are considered under heavy fraction which is landfilled. Around one-fifth of bulky waste is extracted in the form of metals, and hence recycled rather than landfilled.

The MBT plant has been designed in accordance with EU and national directives in order to meet its waste management targets.