STATES members behind a requete for an independent inquiry into disposal of the island’s waste have called for it to start as soon as possible. Deputy Scott Ogier’s requete was approved by 23 votes to 20.

‘I am strongly aware of the immense task we now have ahead of us to make sure the waste disposal strategy is the right one for the island,’ said the St Sampson’s deputy.

‘We now have a short period to look at all the alternatives to a mass-burn incinerator.’

Deputy Ogier, who made the incinerator his priority when he stood for election, said he would accept the inquiry’s findings – even if it backed mass-burn technology as the way forward for the island.

‘The voters of St Sampson’s voted me in on the basis of my manifesto and I was expected to pursue this campaign. I could not ignore that mandate, nor did I want to,’ he said.

‘I also had sheer belief that mass-burn incineration would have such a negative impact that it demanded looking at again.’

He thanked people for their support and help in his campaign.

‘I am completely unable to take more than part of the credit for this achievement.’

Fellow requete signatory Deputy Jonathon Le Tocq also called for the quick formation of a panel.

‘I am not an environmentalist, but I am not happy about spending that amount of money. The review will cost money but it could also save us some. But if the result is the same, I will accept it.

‘This is where the work of the Policy Council will be tested. It has not shown strong leadership so far but it has to show it can establish this panel quickly because that is the sort of thing we elected it to do.’

Two council members dissented from the support for energy from waste.

Housing minister Dave Jones and Social Security minister Mary Lowe both maintained their stance taken at last September’s debate at which the plant was approved.

‘This will give us the breathing space so the inquiry can look at the options again,’ said Deputy Jones.

‘I was concerned with the way the tendering process was originally conducted and think this will provide the opportunity to look again.’

Deputy Lowe said: ‘I have always said that there appeared to be alternatives to mass-burn incineration.

‘And although this inquiry may cost us money, we may find that we have a cheaper alternative in the end.’

Requete signatory Deputy Barry Brehaut said that mass-burn incineration was not in the island’s best interest.

‘In this debate we were told that we have to manage our waste, but that is missing the point. We could be reducing the amount of waste we create to help the cause of the problem and not just the symptoms.

‘The problem of mass-burn incineration is that the recyclable materials are precisely those that are most wanted for consumption in the mass-burn incinerator.’

He said that the rapid loss of tipping life at Mont Cuet – once estimated to be 40 years – should have been investigated.