The landfill of Wied Fulija is going through rehabilitation transforming into a 95,000 sqm nature park in Żurrieq, environment minister José Herrera announced, according to a press statement issued by the government’s Department of Information (DOI). The rehabilitation of the site started in March 2019 and they are seen to wind up by December 2020.
“This project will not only decrease pollution, but the reprofiling and landscaping of this landfill will also improve the natural surroundings, providing the community with a natural park with an area equivalent to nine times the size of the National Stadium shall be embellished,” the environment minister said.
Approximately 45,000 mature trees and indigenous shrubs will be planted on this site, the minister promised according to the press statement published by the DOI.
Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds and Social Dialogue Aaron Farrugia said that the rehabilitation of this valley will protect the environment while giving back a “unique scenery” to the public. The site covers an area of around 95,000 sqm and it is estimated that over its operating period some 1.85 million metric tonnes of waste had been deposited there, however, no formal records exist in related to this matter.
Wasteserv Malta added it has intervened in order to curtail any further spillage of waste into the sea and restrict other pollutants through the implementation of an intensive restoration strategy. “This rehabilitation, apart from visually integrating the landfill with the surrounding landscape, will reduce rainfall infiltration to minimise leachate productions which would otherwise have a consequential impact on groundwater quality,” said Tonio Montebello, the Chief Executive Officer of Wasteserv.