P.7/2008 Re-Use and Recycling Facilities: Capital and Revenue Funding Comments from the Minister for Transport and Technical Services.

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A decision made (20/02/2008) regarding: P.7/2008 Re-Use and Recycling Facilities: Capital and Revenue Funding Comments from the Minister for Transport and Technical Services.

Decision Reference: MD-T-2008-0012
Decision Summary Title :	DS Comments on P7-2008		Date of Decision Summary:	20 February 2008
Decision Summary Author:	John Richardson, Chief Officer		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:
Written Report Title :	WR P7-2008 Re-Use and Recycling Facilities: Capital and Revenue Funding Comments from the Minister for TTS		Date of Written Report:	20 February 2008
Written Report Author:			Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: P7-2008 Re-Use and Recycling Facilities: Capital and Revenue Funding Comments from the Minister for Transport and Technical Services.
Decision(s): The Minister approved the Comments.
Reason(s) for Decision: Response to P7-2008
Resource Implications: None
Action required: Forward Comments to the Greffier of the States and the Publications Editor, States Greffe for circulation to States Members.
Signature:		Position:
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

P.7/2008 Re-Use and Recycling Facilities: Capital and Revenue Funding Comments from the Minister for Transport and Technical Services.

P7-2008

Re-Use and Recycling Facilities: Capital and Revenue Funding

Comments from the Minister for Transport and Technical Services

The principle of establishing re-use/recycling facilities including green waste as close as possible to the main residential areas and within easy access of the travelling public has to be the best option in terms of encouraging the general public to recycle.

When the Solid Waste Strategy was approved by the States in July 2005, the Committee of the day was charged with developing recycling initiatives to meet the targets set in the Waste Strategy and to work with the Comité des Connétables “to introduce a pilot scheme for a co-ordinated collection system for recyclables (including paper, aluminium, glass and pet plastic)”.

The success of the joint working with the Connétables to establish “bring banks” around the Island is self-evident in their popularity with the public and the regular demand for more sites to be established near residential / community centres.

The extension of the existing bring bank sites to include green waste would not be practicable due to the volume of material and the requirement to clear the sites on a regular basis to prevent the green waste from decomposing. The success of the Bellozanne re-use/recycling facility which offers a wide range of recycling opportunities over and above the bring banks is also self evident.

Reviewing success of the past 3 years in terms of achieving targets set in the Solid Waste Strategy suggests that the principle of opening further re-use/recycling centres, one in the west and one in the east of the Island will be well supported by the general public.

In addition to supporting recycling, there will be an added benefit in terms of reducing the length of car journeys required and hence reduce Co2 emissions from delivery vehicles, reduce fuel consumption and the overall level of congestion found on many of the Island’s roads.

Whilst supporting the principle of these additional centres, they come at considerable cost to the tax payer as they have to be convenient and open 61/2 days a week for them to be successful. At a time of considerable financial constraint being applied to States overall expenditure, whilst I entirely approve of the value of this project, I have to question whether this additional expenditure can be justified in the light of other priorities. It is difficult to justify the adjustment of capital budgets when it is clear from my own Department that we are failing to adequately invest in maintaining the critical infrastructure such as road repairs and sewer repairs / extensions. I am also mindful of the ongoing revenue operating costs for these sites and I must make it clear to Members that my revenue budget cannot support the increased expenditure without further and very painful cuts in critical support services to the Island. If Members are minded to support this Proposition, it must be on the clear understanding that the additional revenue required to operate these facilities must be new money found by increasing overall States revenue expenditure or, by other Departments having to make the requisite cuts in their expenditure.