Former waste treatment site in Marsascala to be transformed into a national park

WasteServ submits plans to transform the Sant’Antnin Waste Treatment Plant into a green recreational space, spanning circa 23,800sq.m.

The site which houses the Sant’Antnin Waste Treatment Plant is set to be transformed into a green recreational space, in a proposed project spearheaded to give this 23,800 sq.m. space back to the community.

Most of the operations of this plant were shut down in December 2022. 

After preparing the designs for this new green open space, WasteServ submitted the project’s development application to the Planning Authority. 

The proposed plans will be presented for public consultation as part of the permitting process, before the Authority’s final consideration.

The former waste treatment site in Marsascala will be regenerated into an urban greening space dominated by mature trees, water bodies, various educational facilities and other amenities. An underground parking is being proposed, also servicing Marsascala with an e-park and ride, encouraging sustainable mobility.

This large-scale green project will be made possible following WasteServ’s efforts to streamline its operations, freeing up the sprawling area to be enjoyed by the public in a project of international standard. This aligns with the Ecohive strategy, which aims to significantly improve the Magħtab area. Malta is moving away from its traditional dependence on landfills and towards modern facilities that utilise waste resources in an environmentally sustainable way. Once fully implemented, this strategy will profoundly impact the environment.

WasteServ is also delivering historical records regarding recyclables output over the last two years. Moreover, just this year, over 35% increase in organic waste has been recorded. Black bag arrivals are at their lowest recorded levels for the last 10 years, with a drastic reduction of 600 tonnes in black bags alone compared to the same period last year. 

The Marsascala project proposal aims to yield a vast environment for local fauna, land-based and fresh water and is also intended to serve as a rehabilitation site for various species. It also seeks to incorporate the educational aspect to continue stimulating the required transition towards a better environment, based on sustainability and circular economy principles.

The significant changes being implemented have already yielded positive results, including the successful rehabilitation and conversion of Wied Fulija and Qortin Gozo landfills into biodiversity havens.

Projects like this new open space in Marsascala are only possible thanks to the successful implementation of waste management policies, the lack of which would have only implied further landfills and take-up of land as has been the past occurrence. WasteServ continues to push forward its green circular economy agenda as it implements the largest-ever investment at half a billion euro in Malta’s waste management infrastructure. 

WasteServ thanks the general public for its incessant efforts, which efforts are a vital requirement for the implementation of the Ecohive strategy.