ENVIRONMENT will be at least five months late with its report saying how much waste Guernsey will produce. The States rejected its calculations in January, but without a decision, the Public Services Department cannot go out to tender for a plant.

Environment minister David De Lisle said: ‘The department has not been able to bring the matter to the July meeting due to the fact that this meeting of the States is being dedicated to debate on the Government Business Plan.

‘The report will therefore now be submitted for debate in the autumn.’

But the July agenda does include seven reports for debate not connected with the GBP.

When the States rejected its figures in January, then Environment minister Bernard Flouquet gave an undertaking to be back before the House in three months.

After that debate the responsibility for coming up with a solution to the waste problem was moved to Public Services, with Environment remaining responsible for strategy.

Public Services minister Bill Bell was disappointed at the amount of time Environment had taken getting back to the States.

He added that without a decision, it was not in a position to go to tender.

‘We’re currently waiting for Environment and we’re just deciding on the appointment of consultants for this,’ he said.

When it was in charge of the waste strategy, Environment released a time line for coming up with a solution.

That stated it should now be assessing the tenders and that by 2011, the plant would be operating – at that point there would be three years’ capacity left at Mont Cuet.

Deputy Bell said the lifespan of the landfill site had been extended by an increase in recycling.

‘We also believe it will compact more than envisaged, so we’ve managed to extend the time line,’ he added.

‘But it’s absolutely vital that we get out to tender as quickly as possible and reduce the amount of rubbish going to Mont Cuet.’