The new plant would help in reducing energy losses in the incineration process as well as reducing harmful emissions
Wasteserv inaugurated a €12 million animal waste management in Marsa earlier today.
Speaking at the inauguration of the new Wateserv EU-funded autoclave rendering plant for the treatment of animal waste, Wasteserv CEO Tonio Montebello said that the project was part of its drive to improve the country’s waste treatment infrastructure.
Montebello also explained that the plant would result in substantial savings made in the incineration plant, which processes some 6,000 tonnes of waste a year.
Projects manager Jean Luke Zarb said that the problem with the current system was that a lot of energy was being wasted in incinerating water or fats on the carcasses.
“This plant will work essentially as an industrial pressure cooker in that it will dry up the carcasses beforehand,” he said, adding that this would ultimately result in less energy required by the incinerator.
He added that the fats would also be used as fuel for the plant itself, therefore reducing its fuel consumption.
Stressing that the plant would also be used to treat materials coming from Gozo, Montebello said that the new plant would also banish issues that normally rose when the incinerator was under maintenance, ensuring a seamless transition and operation.
Environment minister Leo Brincat said that the drop in fuel consumption would also ultimately lead to less harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
“Another novelty the plant will introduce, is in expired foodstuffs containing animal by products, which would normally have to be incinerated,” he said using a pizza with meat as an example.
“The plant will allow us to treat these foods and then forward them to other treatments plants to turn them into biofuels,” he added.
Brincat said that the project would also increase Wasteserv’s overall operation, and that the company was also looking forward to the inauguration of the Malta North MBT in the coming months.
EU funds parliamentary secretary Ian Borg added that the project, 85% of which was funded by the EU, was also completed in record time – about a year.
“The government is also currently evaluating projects for the latest €200 million fund package under the European Regional Development Fund,” he said.
From: http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/61095/animal_waste_management_plant_inaugurated_in_marsa#.VqX95lK-LmK