Evidence first before waste flip-flop

While the introduction of the new collection system appears to have gone relatively smoothly, the financial pain for every household has yet to come. And it will be significant, however members vote on the latest amendment later this month.

There remains some serious concern in the community that the level of standing charge disproportionately and unfairly impacts on those least able to afford it. Others argue that it also dilutes the connection to the user pays principle that underpinned many of the arguments for a pay-as-you-throw scheme in the first place.

But those thoughts were well tested when deputies backed the current policy. To flip-flop now in the absence of any fresh evidence would be premature, especially with a short-term review already built into the agenda.

The States’ Trading Supervisory Board should have a good idea about what the new collection system has done to the amount of black bag waste that will need to be shipped off island. It has yet to go public with the figures, but that would be a vital piece of information before another lurch in policy direction is ratified.

One of the reasons for favouring an £85 annual standing charge was the certainty is gives the income stream. The more successful islanders are at reducing waste, the bigger headache it would create for government if it was overly reliant on bag charges alone.

Guernsey has signed an initial three-year export contract, with the option of an extension until 2023. That is for shipping at least 20,000 tonnes of processed waste a year and up to 25,000.

However much rubbish is produced, the States decision to go with export means this and the running costs of the processing facility need to be paid for. Given the choice between a decision now based on assumption, or one six months after the new system has bedded in, based on evidence, the answer should be obvious.