Minister under fire over asbestos storage

Jersey's Environment Minister has been blamed for stalling on a decision about storing asbestos in the island.

Deputy Rob Duhamel wants the toxic substance shipped to France but Ministers from Transport and Technical Services say it should be buried in pits at La Collette.

The views were expressed at a States Scrutiny Panel Meeting yesterday (Monday) where politicians questioned the Transport and Technical Services Minister and officers from his department.

TTS Minister, Deputy Kevin Lewis, said he believes the best solution for the asbestos is to bury it in pits at Energy from Waste plant at La Collette.
However, he said that Deputy Duhamel thinks a better option would be for it to be sent to France where a company would recycle it.

It is a solution that Deputy Duhamel has revealed previously, but which he has still not confirmed as the chosen solution.

The panel of politicians said that they were 'three years down the line with no move forward'.

TTS and the Environment department have joint responsibility for the decision about how waste is dealt with.

There are more than 200 containers of asbestos being kept at La Collette at present.