Public will have input on EfW consultation

THE public will have their say on how Guernsey's waste should be managed. The independent review into the proposed mass-burn energy-from-waste plant is set to consult States members, businesses, scientific groups and the public.

The panel, formed after Deputy Scott Ogier's successful requete to re-examine the future of solid-waste disposal, will look at all viable options.

It will suggest the best possible course of action when it reports back to the Policy Council at the end of the year.

'We are now proceeding to get through a process of consultation in September and that will be in parallel with commencing work on evaluating the mass-burn technology proposals which were accepted by the previous States,' said panel chairman Advocate Roger Dadd.

'We will be reviewing all viable alternatives to the energy-from-waste proposals of Lurgi. In the event that we conclude there to be no alternative to that original proposal we will enquire whether the mass-burn facility is in the right location and of the right size and we will review how the contract with Lurgi for the mass-burn plant was awarded.'

Advocate Dadd said that the consultation process had to be carried out quickly but thoroughly and would include States members, business organisations like the Chamber of Commerce and the Institute of Directors, and scientific organisations in the island like La Societe Guernesiaise and the National Trust.

'We are also inviting any member of the public to make a representation,' said Advocate Dadd.

Advertisements clarifying how people get to have their say will appear in tomorrow's and Monday's Guernsey Press.

Advocate Dadd said that almost all representations would be published on a dedicated review panel website, with copies available for viewing at Sir Charles Frossard House.

There will also be a series of meetings on the future of Guernsey's waste management.

A public meeting will be held on Wednesday 29 September from 7pm in the Harry Bound Room at Les Cotils.

The composition of the panel was announced last week.

'My feeling is that great care has been taken in selecting a group of people who are completely independent specialists in their particular fields and I have every confidence in their ability to work well and to deliver our findings within the timescale set by the States,' said Advocate Dadd.

'We only have four months; I understand the urgency and we are committed to doing our very best to deliver the report on time.'

The panel held its first meeting last Friday. It reviewed the background to the inquiry and addressed the terms of reference, establishing exactly its parameters, and then decided on the method by which we would carry out our tasks.' said Advocate Dadd.

'Part of our work will involve meeting with Lurgi and other commercial organisations interested in providing solutions to the problem of Guernsey's solid waste and we shall be visiting various plants to gain first-hand experience of exactly what may be available whether in the UK or elsewhere.

'In order to deal with the volume of work, the panel members will be working individually or in small groups on specialised areas and that process has already started.'