Guernsey’s sewage treatment investigation charge to be dropped

March 15th, 2012 by Guernsey Water

The States of Guernsey Public Services Department has decided that the portion of the Wastewater Charge assigned to investigating sewage treatment options will be removed from the overall charge with effect from the 31 March 2012.

The charge, which was originally set at £50 per household per year, was used to fund the study carried out by marine experts Intertek METOC in 2011 and some other sewer pipe repair works where seawater was entering the system.

The result of the marine study informed the States Report which was approved by the States of Guernsey at their January 2012 meeting. Continue reading

The film ‘Plastic Shores’ examines the marine plastic debris problem

March 15th, 2012 by La Mode Verte

La Mode Verte Productions announces a new documentary ‘Plastic Shores‘, about the growing problem of plastic debris in the world’s oceans.

‘Plastic Shores’ investigates the irrevocable harm that single-use plastics do to the marine ecosystem and human health.

The film interviews well-known figures and experts including Roz Savage, Jean-Michel Cousteau and Congressman Sam Farr.

The United Nations Environment Programme will hold a special screening of ‘Plastic Shores’ during World Water Day on 22 March 2012 at the Goethe Institute in Brussels. The 60 minute film will be officially released in London in April 2012.

Continue reading

M&S joins Marine Conservation Society to clean British beaches

March 14th, 2012 by Marks and Spencer

Beach litter collected from the shore at Champ Rouget, Chouet on 26 June 2011 (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

Marks & Spencer (M&S) is encouraging its customers to sign-up to become big beach cleaners and help the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) clean Britain’s beaches and protect our seas.

The first ever M&S Big Beach Clean-up, organised by the Marine Conservation Society, will take place between Friday 11 May and Sunday 13 May 2012.

The aim will be to stop common items such as fishing nets, ropes and bottles tops polluting our beaches and seas.

Younger customers can get involved with free beach activity packs, rock pooling rambling and be on the lookout for unexpected items.

Previous MCS beach cleans have found unusual items such as bicycles, rubber ducks and superhero outfits. Continue reading

Guernsey’s A to Z recycling guide

March 2nd, 2012 by States of Guernsey Public Services Department

Spectacles, car batteries and cooking oil are just some of the more unusual items featured in the new recycling guide being delivered to all Guernsey homes.

The easy-to-use two-sided wheel guide includes an A – Z ‘what goes where’, seasonal opening times for all waste sites, and a fridge magnet so the information can always be conveniently to hand.

One side gives the opening hours for all the recycling facilities on Guernsey. In this image the wheel window shows that the Longue Hougue Recycling Facility is open on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays from 9 am to 1 pm between 1 November and 31 March (click image to expand)

Recycling Officer, Tina Norman- Ross said “the new guide aims to address many of the frequently asked questions received by the Department, regarding where to take recyclable and non recyclable waste, site opening times, and inquiries about the Bulk Refuse scheme.” Continue reading

UNEP 2012 Year Book highlights loss of soil and nuclear power plant decommissioning as key issues

February 19th, 2012 by United Nations Environment Programme

(click report cover to go to download page)

Unsustainable landuse

Dramatic improvements in the way the world manages its precious soils will be key to food, water and climate security in the 21st century.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Year Book 2012, 24% of the global land area has already suffered declines in health and productivity over the past quarter century as a result of unsustainable land-use. Continue reading

High recycling rates achieve the best cost profile and the best environmental performance

February 14th, 2012 by BBC

BBC Guernsey‘s Kevin Stewart interviewed Andy Bond, ex-director of May Gurney, and current director of Bryson Recycling systems in the UK, just after 11.30 am on 14 February 2012.

Andy Bond of 4R Environmental Ltd and Director of Bryson Recycling Systems (click image to expand - image courtesy of Andy Bond)

Kevin Stewart: Andy, can you talk us through the work of what you did at May Gurney and now what you are doing at Bryson Recycling because it is something that is so close to everyone here in Guernsey and always seems top of the agenda.

Andy Bond: What we are essentially about is trying to provide the best waste management systems that give the best environmental outcomes but also are cost effective.

We are talking about systems that target large ranges of dry recyclables and food waste, which is very important. Restrict the amount of residual refuse that people can throw away because landfill is expensive and so is incineration and get recycling rates up to 70% or higher.

Continue reading

Recycling Guernsey household waste saves parishioners’ money and is good for Mont Cuet

February 12th, 2012 by Richard Lord

The States of Guernsey Public Service Department is bringing to the States of Deliberation a solid waste strategy for debate in late February 2012, which calls for a recycling target of 70% by 2025.

Guernsey household waste accounts for about one third of the residual waste going to the Mont Cuet landfill. The other two-thirds is commercial and industrial waste.

In 2004 when the Lurgi incinerator was being considered by the Guernsey States of Deliberation, about 72,000 tonnes of residual waste was delivered to the Mont Cuet landfill annually. Continue reading

Over ninety-percent of Guernsey’s usual household waste is recyclable

February 12th, 2012 by Richard Lord

My household of four people has begun to study how much waste it generates and how much can be recycled each week.

Week one

In the first week of the study beginning on 28 January 2012, 10,697 grams or about 10.7 kgs of waste was produced in total; 9725 grams or about 9.7 kgs of this material could be recycled at Guernsey’s bring banks.

This material was collected from all the garbage bins in the house.

We store dry materials for recycling in plastic containers in the garage. Food waste is stored in Sistema klip it 7 litre capacity plastic containers.

For people who lack space, clean dry recyclable material can be stored in bags in a closet.

Residual waste which cannot currently be recycled amounted to 972 grams (less than 1 kg.) or less than 9.1% of the total waste generated. Continue reading

Food waste makes fuel for cars

February 10th, 2012 by Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB

Researchers have developed a facility that ferments food waste to make methane, which can be used to power vehicles.

This plant in Stuttgart makes biogas from food waste generated by wholesale markets (click image to expand - ©Fraunhofer IGB)

Drivers who fill up with natural gas instead of gasoline or diesel spend less on fuel and are more environmentally friendly. Continue reading

Beaches receive microplastic from machine washing synthetic fabrics

January 29th, 2012 by University College Dublin

Microplastic, polyester and acrylic particles of less than one millimetre in size, released from synthetic fabrics during machine washing, is contaminating the world’s shorelines.

Microplastics released from synthetic fabrics during the wash cycle enter the wastewater stream and contaminate beaches (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

According to a study led by Dr Mark Anthony Browne now with the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) in Santa Barbara, California, over 1,900 fibres can wash off a single piece of clothing during a machine wash cycle and end up on the shoreline. Continue reading