Trucks which dump construction waste illegally should have their licenses suspended, the Malta Developers Lobby has proposed.

“The MDA strongly condemns any illegal dumping of construction waste in public open areas, int he countryside, or in any other sites where this waste is not permitted to be dumped,” the association said in a statement. “MDA notes that legitimate concerns about the adverse effect of this dumping on countryside views, made in the written and social media, have recently increased.”

It urged the government to take severe action against illegal dumpers, including suspended the licenses of the vehicles used, and pledged to cooperate with the authorities to weed out the perpetrators.

The shortage of space for construction waste has become a real headache for developers, particularly since quarry owners have recently doubled their charges from €8 to €15 per tonne of construction waste.

In a meeting with with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday, MDA President Sandro Chetcuti urged the government to shoulder a significant amount of the responsibility for the problem, given the massive state projects taking place.

Muscat said the Planning Authority is considering whether to grant developers access to an old offshore site, which has long been used as a dumping ground for construction waste generated by major projects. However, he said this isn’t his preferred choice as it would constitute a waste of potential resources, potentially opening the door for land reclamation.

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