Decision needed on waste management policy

An up to £250 million decision looms imminently – Jersey must decide whether to replace the La Collette Energy Recovery Facility or radically change the Island’s recycling infrastructure.

Jersey’s La Collette Energy Recovery Facility is due to reach the end of its life in 2036, which brings with it a big decision about how the island’s recycling system is structured, according to Jennifer Bridge, “With a ten-year lead in time for a  new ERF which is anticipated to  cost up  to £250 million at  today’s  prices, decisions need to be made now about  what we do next.

Perplexingly,  there is no mention of  a new ERF in the  Government’s Capital Expenditure Plan Investing in Jersey 2026 – 2050. Does the omission of a new ERF signify that the Government is considering a pivot to the Guernsey model or that this significant capital project has not been given appropriate priority?”

In a paper published by the Policy Centre, Jennifer reveals:

• Jersey’s waste levels are double Guernsey’s – In 2024, Jersey generated 348kg of general waste per person compared to 118kg per person in Guernsey.
• Low recycling rates – Jersey’s household recycling rate is just 35%, almost half that of Guernsey (68%) with many residents citing inconvenience and scepticism about what happens to waste as reasons for not recycling.

Kerbside recycling in Jersey is currently fragmented by Parish, with 9 of the 12 parishes providing kerbside recycling (plus St. Martin due to commence in November), operating on three different systems. Grouville and St Clement are still to provide kerbside recycling to residents, relying on local recycling centres known as ‘bring banks’ which are only accessible by car and are often full, or alternatively expecting recycling to be delivered to La Collette in person. This results in people binning items that could easily be recycled due to ease or necessity, often despite a desire to be more mindful in their recycling choices. By contrast, Guernsey has one unified kerbside waste collection system, and charges residents for throwing any un-recyclable goods away by the bag.

Clearer messaging about what happens to recycled items is also necessary to promote the use of the services according to the article. Many Islanders are sceptical about what happens to their waste, some assume recycling ends up the incinerator while others have concerns about the recycling process - resulting in a lack of commitment to recycling.

With a decade to go before the ERF needs to be replaced, the Government of Jersey has some big decisions to make now.

Jennifer Bridge comments:

“Recycling isn’t just about bins – it’s about making it easy, trustworthy, and worthwhile. When people see that what they recycle is genuinely reused, and when it’s simpler to recycle than to throw away, behaviour changes fast.”

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