FREE metal recycling will continue at Longue Hougue after a successful trial. There were discussions at the Waste Disposal Authority meeting yesterday about bringing in a minimal charge to help cover the costs of the scheme.
But the Public Services board decided to open Longue Hougue on weekends every six weeks until the end of the year to allow people to dump scrap metal for free.
‘I was slightly amazed with the quantity that went down there the second weekend. From a scrap metal point of view, it was a bigger tonnage than the first and the weather wasn’t good,’ said minister Bill Bell.
There were 1,200 car loads on 12 and 13 May compared with 1,100 on 28 and 29 April.
‘One of the things that’s come out of that is people wanting to take stuff away.
‘I’ve always had sympathy, but we were advised by the Law Officers that once it’s brought on to site, it becomes our property. We’re responsible for it and if someone took it away and got injured by it, we would be liable.’
But Deputy Bell has asked the Law Officers to look again at the possibility of people being able to take items away. He expected a response by the next meeting.
It cost the department £11,392 to run the trial over the two weekends - a net cost of £55 per tonne.
Deputy Al Brouard questioned whether this was the best way to spend the money.
Unconvinced the metal received would have been fly-tipped, he supported a £2 charge for each vehicle.
‘I think we should be saying these are expensive items to dispose of,’ he said.
Deputy Ron Le Moignan won the support of the board with a suggestion it should try and find a sponsor for the scheme.
The trial was so successful that States Works had to put two staff on for the second weekend instead of one. As well as scrap metal, it also collected things such as old fridges, bikes and car batteries.
Staff will investigate the possibility of bikes being donated to charities.
‘The message I got from the public is that they really value this service.
‘I think we want to carry on this experiment, not charge this time, but it’s always a possibility in the future.’
People can also dispose of their unwanted metal for free at Mont Cuet during opening hours.
* The next meeting is scheduled for 21 June.
Article posted on 18th May, 2007 - 12.00am
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