Environment Scrutiny Panel Report on Recycling Is Misleading

23 July 2007

The Environment Scrutiny Panel’s long awaited report on waste recycling contains a number of unsubstantiated claims and shows a poor understanding of the economics of waste management in Jersey , says Minister for Transport and Technical Services, Deputy Guy de Faye . The Environment Scrutiny Report challenges key assumptions made in the Solid Waste Strategy approved by the States in July 2005.

In his formal response to the Report on Waste Recycling issued on 3^rd July, the Minister states that the Scrutiny Report is bereft of any new evidence of relevance to Jersey and merely revisits many arguments that have already been robustly addressed by the Solid Waste Strategy developed by TTS.

The report focuses on the collection of waste for recycling but fails to deal with the crucial realities of sorting, bulking, transporting and reprocessing of collected materials in the Jersey context. “Of particular concern in this Report is the misleading information on the cost of recycling in Jersey which is substantial and is likely to increase in future” says Deputy de Faye.

“My Department will continue to focus on the introduction of the sustainable services identified in the Solid Waste Strategy including working in partnership with the Parishes to increase waste recycling.”

Chief Officer for TTS, John Richardson added “The claims made in the Environment Scrutiny report are significant and could lead to confusion about the real potential of recycling on the Island . We propose addressing these at a States Members briefing on their return from the summer recess in September.”

The Transport and Technical Services response will be presented to the States and the Environment Scrutiny panel.