Jersey In Peril - Spring 2012

Save Our Shoreline, Spring 2012

TTS (Transport and Technical Services) AND SOS WORK TOGETHER TO FIND A SOLUTION TO JERSEY'S ASH PROBLEM - AND TTS MINISTER GIVES A PROMISE ON GUERNSEY'S WASTE

Left: TTS Minister Deputy Kevin Lewis is interviewed by Channel TV on 11th April 2012 (incinerator behind). Right: SOS Co-ordinator Dave Cabeldu and the Minister discuss the best options for ash treatment. Link to CTV interview here.

Save Our Shoreline welcomes new Transport and Technical Services Minister Deputy Kevin Lewis' new initiative to solve the problem of the disposal of hazardous ash from the new incinerator. SOS have been campaigning for many years to have the ash safely disposed of. We believe that the current method of burying it in lined pits at La Collette is no longer acceptable. The prospect of an ever growing 'artificial toxic headland at La Collette as planned by TTS is a path that in our opinion would be a dreadful legacy for our children and grand-children to deal with in future years as well as being yet another terrible blot on the coastal landscape, already irrevocably scarred. (see here)

Jersey's Transport and Technical Services new Minister Deputy Kevin Lewis agrees with our position and last month three members of Save Our Shoreline and three TTS' officers headed by CEO John Rogers met to discuss alternative solutions to the problem.

TTS have given SOS an assurance that the APCr residues, (Air Pollution Control residues- ash captured in the flues and the most toxic component of the incinerator ash) will now not be buried in lined pits at La Collette as previously planned. New ways are being sought to deal with both components of the ash, preferably on island. This includes the larger volumes of bottom ash, which while not as hazardous as APCr ash, are not inert and contain ferrous metals which need to be removed before they can safely be used for other purposes. TTS have also given SOS an assurance that Guernsey's waste will not be imported unless either the ash component is shipped back to Guernsey after incineration, or TTS are able to deal with it safely using new technology.

SOS have been looking at options for treating the APC residues (3.5 thousand tonnes of APC are already bagged and waiting at La Collette) including plasmafication (which vitrifies the ash into glass) and also an innovative new treatment using liquid carbon dioxide which turns the fine ash into small solid balls which do not leach the heavy metals which are ‘captured’. Both processes mean that the ash could be re-useable as aggregate.

Above: The Carbon 8 process by which the hazardous APCr ash residue is turned ito small balls which can then be safely re-used and not have to be expensively buried in lined ash pits.

A plasma plant could cost up to £5m according to the Minister, but SOS believe that an Accelerated Carbonation Technology (ACT) plant would cost less and that the current backlog of 3.5 thousand tonnes of bagged APC currently sitting at La Collette could in the near future be made safe and recycled as aggregate using ACT technology for as little as £350,00 p.a. This contrasts with the current cost of £548,00 for each pit currently being made to bury it along with bottom ash.

TTS have promised to look into this method which was researched in depth by the University of Greenwich and patented by UK company Carbon 8. The process is licenced by the UK Environment Agency and is currently being used in Brandon, Suffolk, as the local authority's preferred option. The facility is very modest in size and uses little energy, unlike plasma technology.

We agree with the Minister that whichever technology is chosen, all options must be looked at and only the best solution used. This problem must be dealt with and soon.

Independent Interviews were recently undertaken by Tori Morel-Orchard on this subject. She interviewed the CEO of TTS John Rogers, TTS Minister Deputy Kevin Lewis, Planning and Environment Minister Deputy Rob Duhamel and SOS Co-ordinator Dave Cabeldu. All interviews and Tori's commentary can be heard by followng the link from our Facebook Page or just clicking here.