Provision of Recycling sites in St. Brelade

STATES OF JERSEY

PROVISION OF RECYCLING SITES IN ST. BRELADE

Lodged au Greffe on 25th November 2024 by Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade Earliest date for debate: 21st January 2025

STATES GREFFE

2024  P.85

PROPOSITION

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

to request the Minister for Infrastructure –

1. to reverse the decision to close the three recycling points in St. Brelade (Les Creux, the Parish Hall and Les Quennevais Precinct) and to  maintain recycling facilities at these places until at least 30th June 2025;
2. to consult with the Parish of St. Brelade , users of the facilities, and any other relevant stakeholders, in relation to the ongoing provision of recycling points  in  St.  Brelade  and  to  report  back  to  the  Assembly  with recommendations on such provision before the end of April 2025.  

DEPUTY M. TADIER OF ST. BRELADE

REPORT

The announcement that the three recycling points in St Brelade were going to be discontinued was a shock to many in the Parish (and beyond), many of whom only heard the news in our Parish Magazine, La Baguette, which was published this week. In his regular column, Message from Le Connétable , Constable Jackson told readers:

The Parish have been fortunate for many years to have 3 recycling sites or bring banks. They're at Les Quennevais precinct, Les Creux car park and in the car park to the rear of the Parish Hall . The infrastructure department which has responsibility for these have advised the Parish that they will discontinue the provision from January 1st 2025 as a cost cutting measure. One of their arguments is that given the Parish provide a kerbside recycling scheme there is no longer a need for the bring banks. It has also been suggested that the Parish may wish to pay for servicing them. This will be a significant cost which would without doubt increase the parish rate. My observations are that they are well used at present so am nervous about the consequences of removing them altogether and added cost to the Parish if they are to remain. Your views would be appreciated on these proposals.

The Constable is correct that the facilities are well used, and not only by St Brelade residents. Subsequently, there have been many comments on social media, some of which I have included below:

The ones at les creux are well used. I think it's a backward step.

I use La Moye every week and all the bins are always full and well used I can't believe the states are planning to cut this service.

We recycle weekly but take large cardboard to Les Creux as it's likely to blow away in the wind if we leave it for the normal recycling.

They will expect us to take our surplus recycling to La Collette meaning more traffic on already busy roads.

I really wish they would canvass parishioner opinions before taking such decisions. I wonder if they have actually monitored the usage of the ones at Les Creux as these are very used.

In addition, all four deputies and the Constable, have been contacted directly by concerned users of the facilities. One constituent wrote to us saying:

I was shocked to read [the] article in the recent edition of La Baguette, that the States will no longer service the recycling sites in the parish.

I cannot believe that this is a serious proposal. The fact that the bins quickly fill up shows that many others share my view.

Jersey has a very poor record in recycling waste. The government should be doing everything they can to encourage recycling, not making it more difficult by removing recycling facilities

This proposition has been drafted in short order because of the remarkably short notice that has been given that the facilities are to be discontinued. As noted above, the services

Page - 3

P.85/2024

are due to be withdrawn from 1st January. The last opportunity to debate this will, therefore, be at the sitting of 10th December. It is my hope that this proposition will, ultimately, not be needed, and that Ministers will listen both to the strength of feeling from Parishioners and users of the facilities and reverse the decision, to keep the facilities open.

The comments made on social media and by email which I have quoted here need little added to them. They make the points concisely that:

• The facilities are well used. And particular attention is given to how appreciated the facilities at Les Creux are well appreciated.

• The removal of facilities would negatively impact on those who have limited space or who do not or cannot, for all sorts of reasons, use the kerbside collection service.

• People outside of St Brelade also use the facility, and so it is probably not fair to expect the Parish to pay for such a service, in addition to the cost of the kerbside scheme.

• Removing the facilities would likely mean more journeys across the island, meaning more traffic and more carbon emissions.

I would also note the fact that Les Creux offers additional recycling opportunities in the form of Eco Pots, where people can leave and take garden pots. This facility has grown up alongside the Government facility as a community initiative, but one that fits in with the wider aim of reduce, reuse and recycle.

Financial and staffing implications

It  is  envisaged  that  the  costs  for  maintaining  the  provision  and  for  the  require consultation about any future changes to facilities would be met from within the existing departmental budget for 2025.

Children's Rights Impact Assessment

A Children's Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) has been prepared in relation to this proposition and is available to read on the States Assembly website.