Business leaders unite against waste charges

Thursday 06 July 2017

Business groups have rallied together against an “ill-conceived” charge which could see them spend thousands per year more on getting rid of liquid waste.

Leading members of the Jersey Hospitality Association, Institute of Directors, Chamber of Commerce and Jersey Farmers’ Union addressed a deeply critical letter to the Chief Minister this week.

In it, they outlined their “deep concern” over the plans, which will be phased in by 50% throughout 2018 and then fully introduced in 2019.

Their fears had been in the public domain for a long time before the charge was officially ratified, with some claiming that it will harm their businesses' ability to grow and could even "destroy livelihoods." But the Department for Infrastructure – led by Deputy Eddie Noel – have chosen to persist with the charge.

They wrote: “We understand that waste charges are normal in many European countries. It is not that we are against paying for liquid waste removal; it is the fact that these plans need more work – and we want to work with the Minister for Infrastructure to make them better.

“We are heartened by the news that States’ income exceeded expenditure in 2016 and you are on course to close the budget deficit by 2019. We hope that the sound management of our public finances removes any urgency to introduce the liquid waste charge next year and gives us time to work together to ensure that it is effective, fair and won’t damage the Jersey economy.”

Moreover, they suggested that adequate consultation had not taken place on the charge, nor had “proper research” been undertaken by the Department for Infrastructure, leading to “imprecise” figures in a report that concluded hotels would have to pay no more than a few pence per evening. Those estimates, however, were said to, “…bear no reality to the actual data and costs of our members.”

“Now is not the time to rush ahead when there is an opportunity to introduce a better charging structure so we urge you to delay the Appointed Day Act debate. We are deeply concerned that these current charges will cause irreparable damage to key industries. We want to help, so urge that you establish a joint working party to make sure that any charges are built on facts rather than inaccuracies,” they concluded.