Waste alternative will go to States

HOUSING minister Dave Jones will take the Rational Alternative scheme for dealing with the island's waste to the States for debate, he has confirmed.

In a move that highlights a Policy Council rift over Public Services's plan to build a £93.5m. mass-burn incinerator at Longue Hougue, Deputy Jones said he had always believed the best option was micro-incineration, coupled with better recycling.

That is why he is backing rival plans from a group led by businessman Rupert Dorey which include two micro-incinerators that would have a capacity of 22,000 tonnes per year - PSD's proposed plant could deal with up to 54,000 tonnes.

'This is something I have believed in from day one,' Deputy Jones (pictured) said.

'I believed in the People's Panel version instead of mass-burn. I think we need to think about this much more intelligently.'

It is claimed that the Rational Alternative plan would cost around £180m. less than PSD's over the 25-year lifetime of the plant.

It would also cost only £19m. up front - a saving of £74m.

Deputy Jones added: 'I'm sure that the PSD proposal will tick all the boxes for many States members because they will want to put this to bed.

'But the fact of the matter is there are a large number of the community who want their voices heard. That is why I have agreed to take the views of a great many people to the States for debate.'