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STATES OF JERSEY
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RE-USE AND RECYCLING FACILITIES: CAPITAL AND REVENUE FUNDING (P.7/2008) – COMMENTS
Presented to the States on 22nd February 2008 by the Minister for Transport and Technical Services
STATES GREFFE
COMMENTS
The principle of establishing re-use/recycling facilities, including green waste, as close as possible to the main residential areas and within easy access of the travelling public has to be the best option in terms of encouraging the general public to recycle.
When the Solid Waste Strategy was approved by the States in July 2005, the Committee of the day was charged with developing recycling initiatives to meet the targets set in the Waste Strategy and to work with the Comité des Connétable s "to introduce a pilot scheme for a co-ordinated collection system for recyclables (including paper, aluminium, glass and pet plastic)".
The success of the joint working with the Connétable s to establish "bring banks" around the Island is self-evident in their popularity with the public and the regular demand for more sites to be established near residential/community centres.
The extension of the existing bring bank sites to include green waste would not be practicable due to the volume of material and the requirement to clear the sites on a regular basis to prevent the green waste from decomposing. The success of the Bellozanne re-use/recycling facility which offers a wide range of recycling opportunities over and above the bring banks is also self-evident.
Reviewing the success of the past 3 years in terms of achieving targets set in the Solid Waste Strategy suggests that the principle of opening further re-use/recycling centres, one in the west and one in the east of the Island, will be well supported by the general public.
In addition to supporting recycling, there will be an added benefit in terms of reducing the length of car journeys required and hence reduce Co2 emissions from delivery vehicles, reduce fuel consumption and the overall level of
congestion found on many of the Island's roads.
Whilst supporting the principle of these additional centres, they come at considerable cost to the taxpayer as they have to be convenient and open 6½ days a week for them to be successful. At a time of considerable financial constraint being applied to States overall expenditure, whilst I entirely approve of the value of this project, I have to question whether this additional expenditure can be justified in the light of other priorities. It is difficult to justify the adjustment of capital budgets when it is clear from my own Department that we are failing to adequately invest in maintaining the critical infrastructure such as road repairs and sewer repairs/extensions. I am also mindful of the ongoing revenue operating costs for these sites, and I must make it clear to Members that my revenue budget cannot support the increased expenditure without further and very painful cuts in critical support services to the Island. If Members are minded to support this Proposition, it must be on the clear understanding that the additional revenue required to operate these facilities must be new money found by increasing overall States revenue expenditure or, by other Departments having to make the requisite cuts in their expenditure.