Jersey Incinerator will run at capacity for first trial

The new incinerator will be full for its first test burn

Rubbish is being stockpiled ready for the first trial of Jersey's new energy from waste plant.

The minister with responsibility for Jersey's new incinerator said the first trial will take place when they have enough rubbish to run it at capacity.

Transport minister Constable Mike Jackson said they were nearly ready to test the facility.

Some of the rubbish being collected from homes in Jersey was already being sent to the energy from waste plant.

At the moment about 70,000 tonnes of household waste is produced in Jersey each year.

The new incinerator can burn between 35,000 and 110,000 tonnes.

Constable Jackson said engineers were still doing final checks to make sure everything would work safely.

He told the BBC the test run could be the only time the plant would run with a full load.

Constable Jackson said: "The receiving bunker will be filled as much as it can and there will be a certain stockpile to one side as well.

"When we fire it up, prior to receiving it officially from the builders, we want to be able to run it at full capacity to make sure everything works properly.

"Subsequent to that, once it is taken over, it is unlikely it will be run at full capacity for a while."