ALDERNEY has been warned by Public Services that it must select a tried and tested solution to waste disposal.

The department responded after Alderney announced that it would consider sending its waste to Jersey, the UK or building its own incinerator after it estimated being charged an extra £46,000-a-year to use Guernsey’s planned Longue Hougue facility.

Alderney currently ships about 1,000 tonnes of rubbish to Guernsey each year, which goes to landfill, and the island’s Waste Advisory Group will examine alternatives.

PSD said Alderney’s estimate of the increased cost it would incur by using the recently approved £93.5m. mass-burn incinerator was likely to be accurate.

‘This figure appears to have been calculated by multiplying the quantity of waste from Alderney [986 tonnes] by the difference between the indicative gate fee of £175 per tonne and the current Mont Cuet charge of £126.60 per tonne,’ a spokesman said.

‘The future charge is yet to be fixed, which means that the £46,000 could prove wrong but it is a reasonable estimate based on the information currently available.’

PSD said it would not consider striking a favourable deal with Alderney to ensure it kept the northern island’s business.