New Policy Brief - liquid waste management

The Policy Centre has published a new Policy Brief – Liquid waste management. Upgrading Jersey’s liquid waste management system and how this should be funded are important policy issues. This brief collates key evidence, describes statutory context, and analyses policy options aligned to Jersey’s strategic goals and international best practice.

The summary of the Brief is reproduced below.

Liquid waste is any unwanted material in liquid form that is produced by households, businesses, healthcare providers, or industries.

The Waste Management (Jersey) Law 2005 and the Drainage (Jersey) Law 2005 provide the legal framework, and Jersey’s Bridging Liquid Waste Strategy (2023–26) sets out the current policy.

Significant investment is needed to upgrade and maintain the sewerage system and treatment facilities. A decision is needed on how this will be paid for. Existing arrangements lack a mechanism to allocate costs according to usage or polluter-pays principles.

Policy options include direct user-pays charging; investment in treatment and circular economy; enhanced licensing and regulatory oversight; incentives for reduction and public engagement; and long-term planning for resilience.

The proposed 2026 Budget includes provision for charges totalling £10 million to be levied from 2028 onwards.

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