Sark's rubbish burnt in pits while incinerator remains broken

Rubbish is being burnt in pits while the incinerator is out of action

Household rubbish in Sark is having to be burnt in open pits after the Island's incinerator broke down.

The burning has been taking place for several days, say residents, with some concerned about the smoke it creates.

Officials say however, this was the only way to avoid a "waste mountain". Recyclable waste still continues to go to Guernsey, they said.

The burning is taking place on the east of Sark, near the ferry port at Maseline harbour.

Kevin McMullen, who works at a stables nearby, said: "We have horses in the fields and the smoke drifts across the fields constantly now.

"It's not good for humans, and it's not good for horses either."

'Only option'

However, Christopher Beaumont, Seigneur of Sark, said the burning would have to continue until the incinerator is fixed.

"Without doing something with the rubbish we'd end up with a huge mountain." he said.

"So burning seems to be the only option."

He urged concerned residents to put pressure on Sark's Douzaine committee, which is responsible for waste disposal, to get the incinerator back online "as soon as possible".

The committee said the problems were due to "mechanical failure".

In a statement it said: "These pits that you have all seen images of are very much a temporary but necessary measure until we can replace vital equipment to resume waste disposal in the usual manner at the incinerator harbour site.

"We are confident that this will happen quickly, albeit at significant cost."

It added the failings were "largely due to ageing equipment, maintenance issues and insufficient replacement programmes" through a "legacy of past poor planning and practice which dates back decades."