THE waste plant proposals are set to face challenges in the House. Public Services goes to the States at the end of the month with recommendations for eight shortlisted companies to build a plant with different technologies still on the table.

It also wants to make the final decision itself – not go back to the States. But political opposition to that recommendation is lining up, while former Environment minister David De Lisle (pictured) is working on an amendment to pursue a completely different route.

He believes building a 70,000-tonne capacity plant would be putting the cart before the horse. ‘There’s merit in concentrating on the front end of the waste stream and looking at maximising recycling before deciding how to treat the residual waste,’ said Deputy De Lisle.

‘That means working through the waste hierarchy as Defra and other bodies suggest in terms of waste prevention, reuse and recycling and composting in particular.’ Deputy De Lisle argues that 50% of what is being sent to landfill could be recycled – bringing down the amount that needs to be dealt with to around 23,000 tonnes.