'Jersey needs new £250m incinerator or recycling overhaul'

A think tank says Jersey has until 2036 to either replace the Energy Recovery Facility at La Collette or radically change the island's recycling habits.

The Policy Centre says the energy-from-waste plant will be nearing the end of its life in just over a decade.

The Energy Recovery Facility burns the island's waste and generates electricity, making it a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional incinerators.

It was suggested in 2005 that the facility be built at La Collette, rather than at Bellozanne, and after much political and public debate, it was agreed upon two years later.

Now, Policy Centre Jersey is warning that an alternative solution will be needed by 2036, and the government has a 'big decision' to make.

It estimates that a replacement ERF would cost £250 million at today's prices.

Jennifer Bridge wants to see a decision taken quickly:

"We've got an election coming up next year, so you could have a complete change of government, and then - with a 10-year lead in (until a replacement incinerator is due), there's another two elections beyond that.

"We need to really carefully ground what we as an island want to do in solid facts, so that it's something we are comfortable with moving forward."

The think tank says there needs to be a radical rethink of how we recycle.

It reveals we produce, on average, three times more waste per person (348kg) than people in Guernsey (118kg), whilst our sister island has a recycling rate that is almost double Jersey's.

Across the islands, there are very different attitudes to waste management.  Guernsey has a single kerbside waste collection system, and charges residents per bag for throwing any unrecyclable goods away.

Ms Bridge says time really is of the essence.

"Guernsey decided not to go down that route and have an ERF, and Guernsey does fantastic recycling.

"They cycle about 68% of their waste, whereas we're only at 35%."

Nine of the 12 Jersey parishes have kerbside recycling collection, but operate various systems of bags and boxes for the likes of paper, cardboard, metal and glass.

In total, 13 authorities manage Jersey's waste  - each of the parishes and the central government..

Some parishes use a weekly recycling collection method, others opt for a fortnightly two-bag system

St Martin is introducing its service in November 2025.  Grouville and St Clement do not offer the collection and rely on parishioners to take their recycling to 'bring banks', which the Policy Centre says are only accessible by car and are often full.

Alternatively, islanders need to take their waste to La Collette in person.

The Policy Centre says there needs to be a simpler, unified approach to recycling to improve rates and to create clearer messages about the process and benefits of recycling.

“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.”