The £5.9m. project is due to be ready for commissioning near the start of 2026.
It will replace two existing incinerators – one at Longue Hougue which deals with waste from farmers and veterinary practices, and one at the hospital which manages waste from the hospital, nursing homes, GP surgeries, pharmacies, dentists and tattoo shops.
Both incinerators are more than 20 years old and are nearing end of life.
Project manager Clive Martin said the move to a single, modern facility would save more than £160,000 per year through a reduction in operating costs, while it would allow waste streams to be rationalised, meaning 50% less waste would be incinerated.
‘We will be able to strip out elements into offensive waste – waste that is dealt with as black bag waste.’
Among the new incinerator’s improved environmental features include an air filtration system, which Mr Martin said would help ensure the facility was producing ‘very clean’ emissions, while meeting or even exceeding environmental standards.
‘The machine is constantly being treated. In comparison the one at the hospital has to be checked twice a year.’
Mr Martin said the new incinerator would extend 15 metres from the current animal incinerator’s location, with the old one being decommissioned once the new one was up and running and the vacant space used for increased processing.
He said the new machine was being assembled in a factory in Birmingham, and would soon be undergoing factory acceptance testing before arriving in the island and being installed in the summer.
‘Some people may ask why we can’t send animal and clinical waste to the UK. The simple answer is that DEFRA [Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs] would not grant a licence for two waste streams.’
‘Guernsey has to deal with its own waste, and I’m confident we will have greater efficiency to do just that with this new incinerator.’
Mr Martin added that a blended waste stream would generate ‘highly calorific’ waste and help boost efficiency.
Health & Social Care member Marc Leadbeater said that the freeing up of space thanks to the decommissioning of the clinical waste incinerator at the hospital would allow for the replacement of the hospital’s generators, as well as increasing general storage capacity.
‘It’s also good news we won’t have to burn as much clinical waste, playing our part in ensuring that services are becoming increasingly sustainable.’
Environment & Infrastructure president Lindsay de Sausmarez said the delivery of a project that would bring down operational costs to the States was ‘very important’ in order to help alleviate pressure on public finances.
‘Savings are important, but so is the quality of the air we breathe, which is why it’s reassuring to know that this new equipment and technology will meet the highest requirements for the control of pollutants,’ said Deputy de Sausmarez.
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