PUBLIC Services’ decision to scrap plans for island-wide kerbside recycling is a step backwards for the island, according to an environmental action-group member.
G-Can committee member Rosie Dorey said the move would be a huge step backwards in the island’s need to tackle its waste problems.
‘We are disappointed,’ she said. ‘It’s bound to end up in a reduction in recycling rates and an increase in waste which needs to be disposed of.
‘The department’s decision flies in the face of the EU directive, which states that Europe must become a recycling community. It should be an absolute priority.’
Public Services announced last week that plans to introduce an island-wide kerbside collection had been dropped on grounds of cost.
It had carried out trials in two districts – St Peter Port North and St Peter’s – before reaching the decision but Deputy Gloria Dudley-Owen said the trial had not been extensive enough.
‘I’m extremely disappointed with the decision because it seems we will now be unable to meet our 50% recycling target,’ she said.
‘The St Peter’s douzaine carried out a survey and the vast majority, around 94%, were very much in favour of kerbside recycling.
‘I think the department should have undertaken a trial run throughout the island. I’m very disappointed.’
Deputy Dudley-Owen said she thought other measures would now need to be put in place if Guernsey were to achieve its target.
‘I cannot see how the island is going to reach it by taking away kerbside recycling,’ she said.
Public Services had said that recovery rates from the trials had not been significant enough to warrant the cost – at least £600,000 and possibly in excess of £1m. a year.
‘My reaction to that would be, “I’m not surprised”, because PSD did not approach these trials with the determination needed to make them work,’ said Mrs Dorey.
‘It did nothing to find out why some people were not taking part and encourage them to get involved. There were no initiatives to make sure everyone was taking part in the trials.’
Article posted on 2nd December, 2008 - 1.00pm
4 Article Comments
First of all, good on the States. Just for a change they are not wasting taxpayers money on services that can’t be justified. I am all for recycling – but there is a limit on how much money is available for such initiatives.
Secondly, I quote Ms Dorey “‘The department’s decision flies in the face of the EU directive, which states that Europe must become a recycling community. It should be an absolute priority.’
HELLO! Since when have we been part of the EU? Bully tactics and since when did we need to be spoken at like children. Please, Ms Dorey, moderate your language – it is not appropriate to talk to the people of Guernsey about complying with The EU directives. The EU is a bully institution that is totally corrupt and is fond of forcing silly directives on citizens. When citizens think something is logical and worthwhile, the majority comply happily. If Guernsey people think that recycling is good they will do it. Of course there will be execptions where people do not have transport but most of us have neighbours that do. I would be happy to transport my elderly neighbour who no longer drives to a recycling centre or take his recycling for him. As a community we need to get creative in sensible ways like this one and not just expect this government do more that the limited resources allow. I know this will be a unpopular view with the greenies, but a kerbside service is a luxury when we have services to provide to educate children and look after residents with pressing health needs. Just for once, I applaud the States on this one.
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MHH
You have this all wrong. It is up to the government to provide incentive to alter our lifestyle. Anything else has proven not to work. All this ‘personal responsibility’ nonsense as a means of improving society, a Thatcherite non-starter, has failed abismally. It is only by steering people to accept they have responsibilty to each other and the environment that we can improve at a fundamental level. Only until we understand what it means to respect each other – which means polluting less, coveting less, discriminating less – can we truly be individuals. Then, maybe we can have our cake and eat it. I suggest this is a long way off considering some peoples’ attitudes towards sustainabilty, and topically, race.
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To MMH, it would appear from your comments that you have a problem with the EU and that your comments regarding the kerbside recycling are aimed at them and not the point so much.
As far as I can see I don’t believe Guernsey can afford NOT to recycle as much of our waste as possible as once the present hole at Chouet is filled where exactly are we going to dump all our rubbish then?
I applaud your view that you would help your elderly neighbour and if we all thought along these lines this island would be a lot nicer place to live but I fail to see why you think this would be a waste of time and money.
My parents live in North Devon where the local council are able to supply this service over a much larger area and pick up everything from garden waste through to your everyday rubbish. Guernsey needs to start looking a little more long term rather than what can we save today as what are we going to do with our rubbish once the quarrys are full? Especially as we seem to be having trouble deciding on what sort of incinerator or waste to power plant we might have.
The way i look at it is that we either pay for kerbside collections now or we pay to have our waste taken away in the future.
Which do you think is likely to be the more costly?
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I meandered off course on my post last night. I meant to highlight the fact that the States should be investing in our future. It seems many decisions are being made to plaster over the present cracks. The tip will be full soon, The incinerator project is flawed, it is reliant on increased waste which means increased population which entails economic growth. It certainly doesn’t bode well on those fronts.
It would be good to think that the community would pull together, but I think it is increasing doing the opposite.
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