Deputy Peter Roffey has raised concerns about pensioners who are "asset rich but cash poor" struggling to find the money themselves.

Pictured: Some have expressed concerns over pensioners affording the new waste charges.

Deputy Mark Leadbeater was one who always expressed concerns about that and still maintains that he only voted for the current charging mechanism because it was the "least worst option" and he felt that abstaining from voting completely could have led to one of the other "even more unfair options" being voted through.

Now, with the introduction of waste charges just months away, with a vote on the legislation to enforce the charges expected next week, Deputy Leadbeater said he has heard "little positive feedback since the strategy has been implemented" and he fears that "there will be a great deal of negative feedback once the nonsensical sticker system comes online.

"Why this was chosen over printed taxed bags and half bags is beyond me - it will be exploited," he said. 

With regards the charges, Deputy Leadbeater thinks they will go up and he thinks that increase could start to be implemented sooner than expected. 

"We’ve already seen criticism in the media from politicians already, so yes the charges could be questioned further.

"Do I think the cost could go up or down? Yes of course they could go up - technically also down but I doubt that. They had a sneaky 50p contingency in there which tells me that the cost will probably end up at an £85 standing charge and £3.00 per bag - forgive me for maybe coming across as cynical."

Pictured: Deputy Jan Kuttelwascher thought the public would be against the waste strategy when it was approved in April.

Deputy Jan Kuttelwascher who said homeowners would be "hopping mad" when the States approved the new strategy agreed some people will find it very difficult to pay the annual charge as well as buying the new rubbish bag stickers but he said he won't challenge the costs yet as "we're too far down the line, so it's got to go ahead. We've got to pay for it somehow and this is what the States decided."

"I won't seek to amend it" he said, but he thinks it is likely the charges will go up though, probably by inflation every year. He said that is when deputies will need to challenge the charges and review the entire system. He acknowledged the system will have to pay for itself but he said people won't be happy if the cost keeps going up.

Under the new system, the charges approved during a States meeting in April include:

• An annual standing charge of £85 per household 
• A sticker charge of £2.50 per black bag of non recyclable rubbish we throw out
• Parish rates which will continue to be charged under the current plans

Those charges still have to be approved by the States, which is likely to happen next week when the legislation goes back before deputies for final approval.

The regulations will cover the "acceptance of waste of particular descriptions by the Waste Disposal Authority for disposal or recovery at specified public waste management sites (see Table 1 in Schedule 1). They also set out charges in 2018 for the reloading of waste which is not accepted at specified public waste management sites (see Table 2 in Schedule 1)."

The legislation can be read in full here.   

Pictured: The States will give approval to the new waste charges next week.

Deputy Neil Inder was also vehemently against the waste strategy charging mechanism, but after the debate in April he acknowledged that the option adopted by the States was the best one available.

Like Deputy Kuttelwascher he still believes incineration, on or off island - which could have included a "sensible deal with Jersey for shipping our waste to their incinerator" would have been better for Guernsey.

"I didn't support the current system for the reasons outlined," he said, "but there comes a point in politics when you have to vote for something.

"In and before debate the Environment and Infrastructure line was that the new regime would cost householders around £7.50/week. My decision to vote for the black bag at £2.50, the £85 WDA charge and the collection cost at around £85 means that on a one bag per week calculation Islanders will be paying around £5.70 per week. If it's one bag every two weeks the weekly cost is £4.50."

Deputy Inder is also likely to support any efforts to challenge the waste charges in the future - but not when the States are asked to approve them next week.

"If as per Deputy Roffey's suggestion the WDA charge is revisited then the bag price goes up. In every likelihood there will be an attempt to change the charging regime in he next couple of months and if it comes back to the States I will listen to the arguments."

Deputy Inder's worry is that a different, more fluid charge, could replace the approved charging mechanism - which could see prices fluctuate wildly for some homeowners.