New Policy Centre paper sets out the evidence on Jersey’s waste management choices

Policy Centre Jersey has today published a new think piece by lead researcher Jennifer Bridge, examining the options facing Jersey’s next government on waste management and the conditions under which each could be pursued.

The paper, From bin to biogas: is kerbside food waste collection the missing link in Jersey’s waste management strategy?, sets out the evidence on Jersey’s current recycling performance, international comparators, and the questions that would need to be resolved before any major infrastructure decision is taken.

Jennifer Bridge said: “Jersey recycles around 35% of its waste, below the EU average of 48.1%, and around half of our nearest neighbour, Guernsey. When they introduced their waste management framework they not only improved their recycling but significantly reduced the overall amount of waste produced. By contrast, Jersey is currently producing double the amount of ‘black bag’ waste as Guernsey.”

The paper examines Jersey’s waste management framework and considers whether Island Energy’s proposed £25–30 million anaerobic digestion plant at La Collette, could have a role to play. The paper identifies a number of conditions that would need to be met before it could proceed; including collection governance, PFAS risk, soil capacity for digestate, and the adequacy of Jersey’s odour regulation, which the States of Jersey Complaints Board has previously found to require review.

Jennifer explains, “The Energy Recovery Facility at La Collette is expected to reach the end of its operational life in 2036. Infrastructure projects of this scale typically require a lead-in period of around ten years, meaning the incoming government will need to establish a direction of travel early in the next term.”

The paper recommends five actions to support an informed decision: an independent waste strategy review in early course; legislation for an island-wide collection framework; an AD feasibility study; reform of odour regulation; and formal consultation with Jersey’s premium agricultural producers on the digestate question.

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