Firms are being sought to handle island’s food waste

Currently more than 4,500 tonnes of food waste is collected every year from local homes and businesses and sent to England for processing.

But that could change.

The current processing contract expires at the end of 2023. Guernsey Waste is inviting initial expressions of interest from any parties, based locally or off-island, who would like to receive the island’s food waste.

Guernsey Waste operations manager Sarah Robinson said treatment options would need to have environmental benefits and be good value for money.

‘Anaerobic digestion is widely considered to be the optimum treatment for food waste, because it will recover valuable energy from the material, as well as other useful by-products,’ she said.

‘However we are very open-minded at this stage, and are really keen to hear from any operators or potential operators who could provide a solution for managing the island’s food waste.

‘If we have proposals for any other forms of treatment, then we can evaluate what benefits they might offer compared to anaerobic digestion.’

Currently food is taken to the waste transfer station at Longue Hougue, to be exported.

In England it undergoes anaerobic digestion, where micro-organisms break down the food and produce a gas that can be burned to generate heat and electricity, or used as vehicle fuel. It also produces a nitrogen-rich fertiliser.

When the island’s waste strategy was first approved in 2012, it included plans for an on-island facility for treating food waste, using anaerobic digestion or a similar process. This was subsequently replaced by the current export-based solution, mainly due to the high cost of local plant construction.

Miss Robinson said whatever treatment was used, any solution will have to be reliable, with contingencies built in. It also has to be flexible to manage fluctuating tonnages.

The processor will be responsible for ensuring there are adequate outlets for any by-products from the processing.

In the case of anaerobic digestion, these are generally liquid and solid residues, which can be used as nutrient-rich fertilisers. However, this could be restricted in Guernsey due to the limited land available and the potential impact on the water catchment, and may therefore require further treatment.

Any potential operators have until noon on Monday 23 May to submit an initial expression of interest. A contract is expected to be awarded before the end of 2022, with an anticipated start date of January 2024.

This will allow an operator to develop any new facilities.

Any change to the current export arrangement and processing will require approval by the States.

n Full details can be downloaded from www.supplyguernsey.gov.gg, by entering the project code 52509.