Pictured: L'Epine Quarry in the north of Guernsey 

L’Epine is owned by Guernsey Water, and is currently used as a reservoir, while Guillotine is privately owned.

Pictured: Guillotine Quarry in the north of Guernsey 

If it's proven that they are suitable for an alternative use as waste disposal, the States may use them for dumping materials like stone, bricks, cement, rubble and soil, which are currently disposed of at the Longue Hougue land reclamation site in St Sampson’s.

That site is expected to be full within the next five years, and States Trading Assets needs to find a new disposal site ahead of that deadline.

Pictured: Longue Hougue which includes reclaimed land now used for Guernsey's waste disposal infrastructure  

The States has already given the go ahead to investigate further land reclamation at Longue Hougue which could extend the current site by around 500 metres to the south, and between 11 and 15 years to fill. Once complete, it would provide an area of more than 105,000 sq metres for future development. 

In a statement, the States Trading Assets said: "A detailed environmental impact assessment (EIA) is being carried out, to identify the potential effects of such an extension and any possible mitigation measures.

"In conjunction with this, similar in-depth studies will also now be carried out on two quarries located between Bordeaux Harbour and Beaucette Marina."

Trading Assets also said it has already carried out preliminary hydrographic surveys on both quarries, "to determine their depth and contours, and therefore the likely capacity. The EIA will now look at various potential environmental impacts if they were to be infilled, including flora and fauna, traffic, air quality, noise and vibration."

If the plans progress it is expected that the two sites in combination could provide capacity for around three years of filling - yet it is also acknowledged that this wouldn't be a long term permanent plan.

"Although it is not considered a long term solution, they could provide part of one."

Pictured: L'Epine Quarry which could be used as storage for the disposal of inert waste in the future

States Trading Assets said that because both quarries are outside the main centre, there would be limited potential to develop any land created by infilling them - for example building on that land in the future. 

Although homeowners were notified of these plans in letters sent out this week, the two quarries have been among an original longer list of more than 50 options which were previously identified. That included raising land in some low lying, flood prone areas, such as a potential extension to the runway at Guernsey Airport.

States Trading Assets said that "coastal land reclamation, such as the extension to Longue Hougue, or infilling certain disused quarries were subsequently identified as the most suitable options," but that also came with other consequences which need further exploration. 

In December, the States also considered a proposed new strategy for dealing with inert waste, which includes measures to reduce the overall amount of material produced, and to promote more of its reuse and recycling within construction projects.

States Trading Assets said the private sector is also included in the plans as it currently uses a lot of inert waste, "either by recycling on site within projects or producing aggregate for use elsewhere." However it is also estimated that "up to 20% of material currently used for land reclamation could still be used in building projects."

States Trading Assets said it is "therefore looking to award a contract for a local company to provide an aggregates recycling facility at Longue Hougue. This would divert some material is suitable for use in other projects, and extend the life of the current land reclamation site."

The contract would be for an initial three years, after which it will be reviewed and either extended or offered for tender again.