This Is Guernsey

REMAINING open-minded is still the name of the game for members of the people’s independent panel on waste disposal.

The group has now met for the third time as a forum that will consider the States recommendations on the type of plant used to deal with the island’s waste. In the latest meeting, the seven panel members were able to question project director for States Property Services Alan Richards about States decisions and matters relating to disposal.

‘It was very useful to have some direct dialogue with a man who has given more time to the exercise than anyone else as far as I know,’ said panel member Dr Barrie Mealing (pictured).

‘The department still considers that the States mandate is correct, which is a large plant-based solution, but the department is still to convince the panel of that.

‘We are still open-minded and one of the useful parts of the exercise is that if we are not convinced, it will be very hard to convince the rest of Guernsey.

‘However, if the panel members can be convinced, then the department has a better chance of getting the project through.

‘There are plenty of alternatives but whether those are better than the use of an incinerator is still to be resolved.’

The panel is a non-political body that was created by Public Services to reassure islanders that public opinion would be taken into consideration when it goes to the States with its recommendation for waste disposal.

Dr Mealing said the panel and all  its members were still at an information-gathering stage.

‘Having come into the exercise for the past month or so, it would be unreasonable to have come to any definitive view as yet.

‘There are still options which we want to look at.’

Former States member Advocate John Langlois chairs the meetings.

He said the latest forum had been useful for the panel members.

‘It was good foundational work for them to understand the basis of the States resolutions in 2007.

‘The panel is clearly enthusiastic to understand and to come to grips with the island’s waste history.’

Another panel member, Sarah Breton, said the group was now in possession of the names of all the tenderers that have an expressed an interest to build, construct and operate a residual waste-treatment facility.

However, it was now waiting on Public Services to provide further details including the technologies put forward by interested parties.

‘We are gathering as much information as possible and that is why we are visiting sites around the island.

‘There are lots of people and companies involved in Guernsey and it’s a matter of us trying to understand that for the future and how we can go forward and we want to find the reasons why some things have been thrown out or discarded in the past.’

The facility would have an initial capacity of 45,000 tonnes per year growing to 70,000 over 25 years.

‘The figures decided upon by the States were with the assumption that Guernsey would be recycling 50% of it. The ratio is currently 31.2%.

• Anyone wishing to put questions to the panel can email panel@waste.gg.

Article posted on 22nd April, 2008 - 2.29pm