Guernsey waste export plan approved by States

Deputy Luxon said Les Vardes Quarry was one of nine quarries considered as possible landfill sites

A move to throw out Guernsey's waste strategy for the third time has failed.

Deputy Laurie Queripel led the motion to reject the export of waste in favour of continuing to landfill the island's rubbish.

Public Services Minister Paul Luxon said such a reversal would cost several million pound to add to the nearly £12m spend on the two previous options.

Deputies threw out the proposals by a vote of 33-4 and approved a search for companies to manage the waste export.

Deputy Luxon said: "By exporting our residual waste it allows us to continue with the core project... which is to minimise.

"Should we reach the lowest possible level of residual waste at some point in the future then it may well be we can look at other alternative options."

The States has agreed to staggered recycling targets with an overall aim of recycling 70% of household rubbish in 2025, but it failed to reach its 50% target for 2013.

The Public Services Department has estimated the cost of the infrastructure needed for the export of waste to be about £29m.

It will now go out to tender for the construction of a transfer station, someone to transport the waste, a materials recovery facility and other items including vehicles for the kerbside collection of recyclables.

It's not yet been agreed where the waste will be exported to or how it will be dealt with.

Currently, non-recycled waste is dumped at Mont Cuet landfill site in the Vale, which is expected to reach capacity in 2022.

The strategy also includes plans to ensure public events use recyclable food and drink containers and work with the commercial sector to prevent and minimise waste generated by businesses.