15 November 2013
The Planning and Environment Minister, Deputy Rob Duhamel, has approved a planning application for the storage of asbestos waste at the La Collette reclamation site.
The application, originally submitted by Transport and Technical Services in December 2010, was amended in October 2013 to acknowledge that the La Collette site would only be used as a temporary holding and storage facility.
The storage of asbestos in constructed cells in the ground has been approved for a period of five years and is subject to certain conditions being met, including a periodic review of other recovery or disposal options.
Alternative solutions
The Minister deferred making a decision on the application in September 2012 to allow TTS and the Department of the Environment to investigate alternative long-term disposal or recovery methods being used in other European jurisdictions, in particular France.
These investigations have concluded that, while alternative solutions should continue to be sought, the planning application to store asbestos at La Collette in the short term should be approved.
Better long term answer
Deputy Duhamel said “I remain determined that waste arising from the Island is dealt with in the most environmentally friendly way, which does not leave a lasting impact on future generations.
“I do not believe that burying asbestos in the ground is the best long term solution and I have been pressing for other existing solutions to be looked at. I am pleased that Transport and Technical Services have agreed to work with my department and explore alternative options that will result in a better long term answer to the asbestos management problem we have.”
TTS will need to submit a revised Environmental Management Plan for approval and obtain a Waste Management Licence before any development of the site can start.
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