SHIPPING refuse to Germany for incineration is a realistic short-term option. Environment minister Bernard Flouquet branded the idea – raised in the House by Deputy Charles Parkinson – a ‘false hope’.

But representatives from Mindest SA said the offer was genuine.

The Geneva-based company, which deals with several types of waste, would take care of all technical, transport and legal issues and believes all obstacles could be overcome.

‘Yes, we have made an offer because, as far as we know, Guernsey is wondering if it can build an incinerator plant, which may be a very good idea,’ said Alain Francois, Mindest’s head of sales.

‘It’s complex and takes time, between five or seven years before the first decision and the day the plant works. So maybe a company like us could provide an alternative solution, not long-term, but help.’

The company deals with several plants in Germany, each handling a different type of waste.

‘We are in contact with partners located mainly in Germany and they ask us to pick up material in several countries such as France,’ he said.

‘The German people do not like nuclear plants so several years ago they built many incinerator plants in order to produce electricity.’

He said that they needed to burn material but always tried to bring in different types and they were looking for new solutions.

‘For instance, household waste or sludge or a mixture of different waste; our business is to find them these materials.’

When shipping waste, the company has to observe strict regulations and needs the approval of both countries.

‘We put in place the whole solution, including transport and regulation.’

During the energy-from-waste debate, Deputy Flouquet raised concerns that the offer did not apply to Guernsey because it was not in the European Union.

But Mr Francois said that because the island was part of the OECD, the option of export was still open within the Basel Convention, though he admitted that the process was complex.

‘It is allowed for a waste-recovery process, not for disposal only.’

He added that the process was complex.

In the letter outlining the deal, Mindest offered to take care of pressing the household waste, packing it in one-ton bags. It would load two or three ships a week and export it to Hamburg.

‘Before it is put on the boat, you have to pack them and press in order to reduce the volume and minimise the cost. We have to provide the whole solution, technical and policy,’ said Mr Francois.

‘If we don’t do so, we’re not allowed to sell the waste.

‘It’s not a piece of cake but we can do it; it’s our business.’

Deputy Parkinson said that the offer should be considered.

‘I hope the Environment minister will look at it; if they don’t, we [Treasury and Resources] or I will,’ he said.

‘My proposal is that for a period of five years, Guernsey should export all non-poisonous waste to the nearest convenient incinerator: it may be Hamburg, it may not.

‘I brought up Hamburg to show the idea is a possibility.’

In the intervening time, pyrolisis, which consultant Juniper said needed two years to prove itself and so did not consider in its report, could become viable.