IT MAY not be particularly scientific, but the online survey released yesterday by local web and e-media agency Submarine on the Suez project is certainly indicative – about 60% of the island is opposed to building the £93m. plant.

Reasons for that vary, but there is extreme nervousness about the technology, the pollution it will cause and the sheer cost, especially compared with the Vantage system being so successfully promoted by the joint venture of the Stan Brouard and Baltic groups.

Stan Brouard Ltd, in particular, is well-known to islanders and this is not just a personal crusade by its managing director but a fully thought-through business venture because the company is convinced that the low-temperature treatment process is not just environmentally sound, it makes commercial sense, too.

The biggest problem with the Vantage system is that its supporters cannot point to a UK municipal operator who has several years’ experience of operating it so that its performance can be validated.

Against that, there is an impressive number of potential buyers of the technology who are claimed to be very interested in the system as a replacement for incineration-based treatments.

Like the chief minister suggesting there should be a delay in the States’ decision-making process, Brouard would argue there should be time made available for its demonstration plant to be installed at Longue Hougue and run for three months.

While Public Services can point to the Suez system and say it will do all that is promised of it, it is also unarguable that many communities are either refusing to allow incineration – or even closing existing plants – while the Vantage Processor is exciting close interest from many quarters.

It will be for Treasury and Resources, as landlord, to allow any trial and islanders will hope that permission is granted speedily because the treatment really does need to be seen in operation locally.

For that to happen, and for Jersey’s attitude to accepting off-island waste to be tested, the current Suez timetable needs to be delayed.

But that will not happen if States members insist on endorsing incineration without testing the alternatives.