Two parishes would welcome flies’ larvae trial for food waste

A requete is being finalised by a group of politicians lobbying for the States’ Trading Supervisory Board to hold off on

contracting a single company to handle food waste.

If they are successful, they propose that each parish could give food waste to any contractor and trial different disposal and composting methods, such as using black soldier flies.

St Peter Port senior constable Zoe Lihou is hoping politicians consider the requete seriously. She said that taxpayers were not aware of it as a potentially cheaper, yet more sustainable option.

‘Parishioners are paying £800,000 for kerbside [waste] collections, and as the douzaine, we have to have their best interests in mind,’ she said.

‘Other countries have shown it’s sustainable and worthwhile, so why can’t it be in Guernsey? We’re always so far behind.

‘The larvae of black soldier flies are innocuous, they don’t bite, and they only survive in certain conditions.’

The larvae feed on organic matter, including food waste, reducing its weight by about 50% and at a faster rate than conventional composting methods.

‘It is more sustainable, it’s better for the environment and it’s more cost-effective,’ said Mrs Lihou.

‘The responsibility of waste collection is already with the douzaine, so it wouldn’t be any extra work for us and waste wouldn’t need to be transported off-island. It’s worth a try.’

St Peter Port douzaine received a presentation about the process, and Vale parish officials have also had a proposal outlined to them.

Both parishes agreed it would be interesting to run on a trial basis to see how it works.

‘It’s fair to say the majority of the douzaine found it very interesting, and it should be seriously considered and looked into in great depth,’ said Vale senior constable Richard Leale.

‘We, as a douzaine, couldn’t see why we can’t have it as a trial at Longue Hougue.’

He added that there was some hesitation from the douzaine, such as whether it could be scaled up to the extent required in Guernsey.

But it would not make a difference for the parish as the refuse contractor would still deliver the food waste to location, he said.

‘We have also been led to believe that the flies would not survive outside of the contained area,’ said Mr Leale.

‘The company were adamant that our parish would not be overrun with flies like others parishes.’

Deputies are likely to debate the requete when States meetings resume in autumn.

Guernsey Waste has concluded a tender process for a new company to handle the island’s food waste and is poised to sign a contract. Its cost has not been revealed.

But deputies backing this alternative solution are demanding that the STSB delays and are threatening to take the matter to the States.