Green waste from commercial operators: introduction of charge.

STATES OF JERSEY

GREEN WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL OPERATORS: INTRODUCTION OF CHARGE

Lodged au Greffe on 4th February 2011 by Deputy P.V.F. Le Claire of St. Helier

STATES GREFFE

2011   Price code: B  P.20 (re-issue)

PROPOSITION

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

to request the Minister for Transport and Technical Services to introduce a charge for the reception of green waste from commercial operators.

DEPUTY P.V.F. LE CLAIRE OF ST. HELIER

REPORT

In the last decade the States have spent over £5 million of taxpayers' money on an activity that it has no legal requirement to conduct. In doing so, it has produced with much fanfare a mere £300,000 of compost. This is not the way the general public want their funds managed in my view, and it does not represent value for money.

Whilst green waste reception facilities for the public in my  view should also be considered in a more holistic approach for the future, for the time being I believe the free service should be retained until alternatives are available for non-commercial green waste producers.

There may be a cry that this will increase fly-tipping. Fly-tipping is illegal and occurs at present, even with free deliveries. The unacceptable activity of fly-tippers needs to be  challenged  by  the  laws  in  place,  with  any  case  having  been  brought  having cognisance that it is potentially being done to avoid costs. Information going out to all commercial  operators  through  the  Economic  Development  Department  and  the Transport  and  Technical  Services  Department  will  ensure  that  the  commercial activities are well informed of what the laws say and where the green waste can be delivered, with times clearly stated as to when reception will be allowed. This will help avoid the need for extra staff to work overtime just to keep up. Staff that require HGV skills from within the department are required to be paid overtime in some circumstances. How is it that an activity we should not be engaged in is costing the taxpayer overtime?

As an Appendix to this Report, I include some answers to questions tabled by myself and Senator J.L. Perchard over the years regarding operational costs.

Financial and manpower implications

There will be a reduction in waste received and thereby there will be a reduction of costs and manpower. Any income received can be set against the considerable losses being incurred at present.

APPENDIX 1240/5(5986)

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY P.V.F. LE CLAIRE OF ST. HELIER ANSWER TABLED ON TUESDAY 1st FEBRUARY 2011

Question

"Further to his written answers on 23rd of May 2006 and 20th November 2007 to questions raised regarding green waste composting costs, would the Minister provide comparable costs for 2008, 2009 and 2010?"

Answer

The 2008, 2009 and 2010 green waste composting costs are as follows.

From the beginning of 2009 public green waste reception was separated from the La Collette site  to  a  new  facility  at  Gate 15'  Bellozanne.  This  was  necessary  following  the  hazards analysis of the La Collette fuel storage facility. The manning of a 7 day per week public service with  weekend  cover  paid  at  overtime  rates  plus  the  extra  haulage  costs  has  significantly increased the overall annual costs of managing green waste. It is hoped that this site can be re- integrated with another reception site during 2011.

The income stream is from the sales of PAS 100 approved Soil Improver.

1240/5(3564)

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY P.V.F. LE CLAIRE OF ST. HELIER

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 20th NOVEMBER 2007 Question

Further to his written answers on 23rd of May 2006 to a question raised by Senator Perchard regarding green waste composting costs, would the Minister update those answers for the comparable cost in 2006, and so far in 2007, and advise of any other costs incurred that were not evident in the original scheme?

Answer

To enable direct comparison between the years is difficult as the chart of accounts for recycling was re-developed in 2006 and 2007 to better reflect the many areas of recycling  now  covered  by  the  Department.  A  new  Green  Waste  Shredder  was purchased from a minor capital vote in 2007, the costs for this one off' purchase are shown separately.

The costs for to the green waste composting in 2005, 2006 and 2007 (end of October) are as follows –

**Direct comparison to the answer given on 23rd May 2006, requires the depreciation amount to be added on to give £594,825 as shown on the original answer.

The staff expenditure covers three manual workers which includes weekend reception facilities which are paid at overtime rates, plus management time and departmental overheads.

The  plant  and  equipment  costs  now  form  part  of  supplies  and  services,  and  are inclusive of depreciation and maintenance.

The cost of the new Green Waste Shredder was £230,000 which was funded from a minor capital allocation.

The capital cost for the concrete slab and leachate collection system was £456,000. This work was completed in August 2003.

The income from the sale of compost in 2006 was £63,157. The majority of this income was for fully matured PAS100 soil improver. In 2007, there were process problems at the beginning of the year due to frequent breakdown of the old shredder. This resulted in more compost being delivered to agricultural land and less being further processed to manufacture the high quality PAS 100 approved material that is sold in the garden centres.

1240/5(2878)

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES

BY SENATOR J.L. PERCHARD

ANSWER TABLED ON TUESDAY, 23rd MAY 2006

Question

Would the Minister –

1. provide a breakdown of the total costs relating to the Department's green waste composting operation for 2005 including the cost of the disposal of all material, depreciation of plant and machinery and all other associated costs?
2. inform members of the value, in monetary terms, of the Department's compost sales for 2005?"

Answer

1. The costs relating to the green waste composting site in 2005 are as follows –

Staff  £187,731

This cost covers three manual workers, one civil servant manager and 20% of the cost of a senior manager and additional staff to cover weekend reception facilities which are paid at overtime rates.

Non-staff  £445,653 This cost includes the following –

Haulage of compost from La Collette to farms

undertaken by private contractors.  £78,146  Payment to land owners at a rate of £10 per Vergée.  £17,528  

Hire of payloader, bagging of compost, handling

and spreading equipment undertaken by private contractors.  £113,267  

Lease and maintenance costs for shredder and screener.  £110,355  

Laboratory testing and professional support.  £11,328  

Advertising and publicity.  £18,039  

Consumables including fuel, water, electricity, telephones, etc.  £32,044  

Mechanical, electrical and civil maintenance.  £38,405  

Miscellaneous items.  £26,541  Depreciation  £13,696

Income  (£52,255)

Total Expenditure:  £594,825

The capital cost for the concrete slab and leachate collection system was £456,000. This work was completed in August 2002.

The  plant  and  equipment  costs  form  part  of  the  Non  Staff  cost  and  are inclusive of depreciation and maintenance.

The depreciation cost shown is for the main shredder which was purchased in 2004 with a minor capital vote.

In 2005 approximately 80% of the compost produced was applied directly to land. There  is no  income  generated  from  this  compost  and  in  2005 land owners were paid £17,528 to put this compost onto their land.

2. The income from the sale of compost in 2005 was £52,255. 75% of this income was for fully matured PAS100 soil improver and 25% was for the sale of mulch.

_____________________________________________________________________ Re-issue Note

This Projet is re-issued because part of the Appendix was inadvertently omitted when it was originally published.