This Is Guernsey

By Matt Lihou

The Waste Disposal People’s Panel and some of the island’s deputies met at Candie Museum last night for a debate that raised concerns over the tender process and the proposed incinerator. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0609567)

ALTERNATIVES should be looked at over the issue of waste disposal. That was the view of a number of deputies who attended a question and answer session last night with the Waste Disposal People’s Panel at Candie Museum last night.

The independent group was set up earlier in the year to look at waste disposal.  It believes that Public Service’s plans for a 70,000-tonne incinerator are inappropriate and has suggested that a 20,000-tonne micro-incinerator is a better alternative.

However, Deputy Roger Domaille pointed out that regardless of the size, potentially hazardous ash was still going to be produced.

‘However much tonnage it is, waste is still burnt. This doesn’t seem to have been considered at all, only the quantities have been considered,’ he said to the panel, which was headed up by facilitator John Langlois.

Barrie Mealing, who was one of the seven-person panel, said that an incinerator had been the plan all along.

‘I don’t want an incinerator, but we realised some time ago that it is the best option to consider,’ he replied.

One of the areas that the panel had concerns about in its report was the tendering process, which members believed was ‘fundamentally flawed’.

As it stands, eight waste companies have been short-listed for the proposed 25-year contract.

However, Mr Langlois felt that the uncertain nature of the proposals meant that not all the relevant companies had necessarily come forward.

‘If we do go ahead with the 20,000-tonne micro-incinerator, then different companies may come into the frame that wouldn’t have done so when they were looking at the original States proposals,’ he said.

The panel stressed that they still wanted the States to make the final decision on the matter and not Public Services.

Dan Le Huray, a member of the panel, said: ‘We want all States members to vote on it because they have been voted in by the people of Guernsey.

‘They should be the people making the important decisions,’ he said.

The issue is being discussed next week and if there is a delay in the process, then the panel has said that there may be an opportunity for other viable alternatives to be looked at.

Article posted on 23rd July, 2008 - 1.00pm