On its website, local waste management agency Wasteserv describes itself as being "committed towards establishing and maintaining innovative waste management infrastructure."
But a video uploaded to Facebook on Wednesday afternoon suggests some of the company's operators are stretching the definition of "innovative infrastructure" to breaking point.
A motorist took to Facebook group Are You Being Served to share a video of an old, dilapidated open truck leaking significant amounts of dark, murky and allegedly smelly effluent. The truck was followed all the way from the Paceville traffic lights to Luxol.
"Cars stuck in traffic and pedestrians on both sides of the street looked on in shock and disbelief as they covered their face trying to take a breath," the man who posted the video wrote.
WSM 012 - the offending truck's number plate - is among the vehicles registered to Wasteserv chief Tonio Montebello, with its registered licence currently set to expire in mid-July.
When contacted by Times of Malta, Mr Montebello immediately investigated and said that initial investigations reveal a possible fault that occurred mid way due to a possible pothole.
"The container is a leakproof container recently purchased (four in total) used to transport a semi liquid mixture of waste from municipal solid waste. Truck drivers are instructed to check the containers once they lift them on the truck. The same check is done by the supervisor.
"The truck left the Sant’ Antnin plant not leaking. We are therefore suspecting that a sudden jitter due possibly to road conditions may have displaced the packing material which seals the door causing the liquid to seep through.
"This is also further corroborated by the fact that the leak occurred in Marsa. Had the truck left Sant Antnin leaking that much, it would have drained completely by the time it arrived at Marsa. The container is being inspected by maintenance personnel at the moment," he said.
[attach id=632663 size="large" align="left"]The vehicle features on a list of registered waste carriers available on the Environment and Resources Authority website. [/attach]
Facebook generated interesting description about the liquid, with one reader saying it was "freshly collected cow manure which then squeezes the juice out from the pressure under its own weight".
"It smelt more like vomit and had pieces of food in it," another replied. "Seriously. Dont think it was cow dung."
Whatever it was, it clearly did not smell of roses.
"Smelt horrible!! YUK! My car stinks from driving behind him," wrote another motorist who was caught in the unfortunate trail.
Screenshots: Facebook