How much does it cost to export waste to Sweden?
Dear SIR, with regard to the article about renewing the contract for exporting our waste to Sweden. The States declined to say how much it’s costing the island, you and me the tax-paying public. There is no need for a specific cost, but is it £3m., £4m., or £30m. per annum? Just a ball park figure. I am sure a spokesman would be happy to reply.
Ian Martel.
Avalon, GY2 4AP.
Guernsey Waste operations manager Sarah Robinson said: We understand your correspondent’s interest, which no doubt is shared by others. The overall cost of processing and treating all the general waste that we receive at the Transfer Station at Longue Hougue is around £3m. a year.
That is waste from both households and businesses, and includes all on-island processing prior to export, as well as the subsequent transport and processing at the off-island energy recovery facility.
Geminor’s contract covers the export and off-island treatment elements and is therefore included in this headline cost.
It was competitively tendered prior to the initial agreement being signed in 2018 and before extending the contract for a further two years we undertook a review of the market to ensure the current deal continued to represent best value.
Notwithstanding the transport requirements, of the bids received following the initial tender exercise, Geminor’s was the one that provided the greatest environmental benefits, due to the high efficiency of the energy recovery process.
Unfortunately we cannot give any further breakdown of costs, as to disclose details of our current contract could potentially harm the States of Guernsey’s commercial interests when we go out to tender again in the near future.