Exporting rubbish abroad is being further investigated

Tip charges at the Mont Cuet landfill site are being increased in order to encourage more reduction, separation and recycling of rubbish.

Douzaine Council chief Bill Robilliard said everyone should play their part.

But calls for charges to be on a scale depending on how much is thrown out to encourage recycling have been met with caution by the Environment Department.

Cost disincentive

Bill Robilliard, chairman of the Island Douzaine Council, said: "Each parishioner should recycle whatever and wherever they can.

"That way they keep the weight of general refuse down and therefore the charge to the parish authorities is less and there is less cost to pass on to the ratepayer."

But Environment Department Chief Officer Steve Smith said charging households according to how much rubbish they produce could end up acting as a disincentive because the high cost of recycling in Guernsey.

He said: "In the UK, where recycling is far cheaper, the more you recycle, the less waste you put out, the cheaper your bill is.

"The reality in Guernsey is that it's dearer to recycle and people would find bills going up because of proportional charging."

Meanwhile, a final decision on whether to build a waste-to-energy incinerator in the island will be delayed until more research is carried out.