Kerbside recycling plans are scrapped
Saturday 29th November 2008, 9:29AM GMT.
PLANS to introduce island-wide kerbside recycling have been scrapped.
Collecting food waste for composting might have made the scheme viable.
But health and environmental concerns, particularly on the part of the dairy industry, have ruled that out.
And Public Services said yesterday that the cost of collection – at least £600,000 and possibly up to £1m. a year – did not justify a minimal increase in other forms of recycling.
Trials using 1,750 homes in St Peter Port (North) and St Peter’s suggested that the scheme would not offer value for money.
Public Services member Deputy Tony Spruce (pictured) said that compared to the UK, Guernsey was already achieving a good recycling rate through its bring bank system.
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How about recycling depots at more convenient sites then?
All schools would be a good start. Also some at popular local shops so that we can recycle whilst picking up the daily essentials.
People with cars have not got a problem with access to existing depots. Those without have their hands forced towards their dustbins. This needs adressing if we are going to make any significant progress.
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I wonder whether in calculating the cost of kerbside collection, they also calculated the cost of the present collection system. At the moment material for recycling is transported to central recycling sites in hundreds of small vehicles at what seems to the individual recycler a relatively small cost in terms of time, fuel and wear and tear on vehicles and roads. It would be interesting to know what is the total cost of all these many thousands of trips to the recycling banks.
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We have kerbside recycling here and it works so well… It encourages more people to recycle.
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We also have it here in NZ and it does indeed work very well. Private companies service our city of 100,00 people, different areas on different days. We pay for this service in addition to our refuse disposal – the cost is roughly GBP 10.00 per six months. We are supplied one large plastic bin, in which we put glass, paper, tins and plastic. The truck comes along and staff ride on the back, sorting as they go. I’m sure Guerns would happily pay a reasonable fee for such a service.
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Other 1st world countries have MADE it happen…why not Guernsey? why is it so hard here? Did they look at other models and perhaps see where they are going wrong before scrapping the whole idea? How exactly did “environmental concerns” (or lack of) stop the system?
Dont complain about landfill if your not prepared to put in the yards for a good recycling system.
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The States have to find some way of justifying the proposed waste to energy plant. Hoping we will increase the rubbish we leave out I expect.
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When PSD made the comment that it could not justify the £600k plus, was that cost based on using the only resource availble to them ie SWD, if so, why? as i’m sure other refuse collectors could do this for less. As Will says we should be able to make it happen – can we afford not to? Surely it is more environmentally friendly for one or two vehciles to be making daily collections from doorsteps rather than thousands of cars making journeys to the bring banks.
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