Guernsey kerbside service has teething problems

Thousands of recycling bags have been left on the kerbside in Guernsey because they contain material that cannot be recycled, it has been revealed.

The island of Guernsey introduced its first household kerbside recycling service earlier this year, as part of a two-year interim scheme before a permanent recycling plan is put in place.

However, since then, around 2,500 bags of recycling have not been collected, because they contain material that cannot be recycled.

“Glass is a real issue”

The problem has largely arisen from glass, it has been revealed. Currently, kerbside collections do not include glass, due to ‘issues associated with its collection’ (which can see broken glass contaminate other waste streams, such as paper).

Bags which contain glass have had stickers placed on them explaining why they have not been taken.

Speaking to the BBC, Tina Norman-Ross, Recycling Officer at the island of Guernsey, said: “Glass is a real issue as soon as it gets into the system, so contractors are particularly careful to make sure it doesn’t. Even the odd bottle or jar can cause problems.”

The council is now reminding residents to take glass for recycling to bring bank sites, in the same way that they previously dealt with all recycling on the island before the kerbside service began.

Trials for the separate collection of glass will be run in some areas of St Peter Port later this year. The council is hoping to be able to include glass as part of the final recycling scheme.

Kerbside collection details

The kerbside recycling scheme in Guernsey is currently voluntary. It is run by Mayside Recycling and funded by Guernsey Public Services, which is responsible for the delivery of key services and for the provision of essential island infrastructure.

At the moment only dry recyclables are collected and food waste collection will be offered when facilities for processing it are available.

According to the Public Services Department, the new kerbside collection service has seen a 10 per cent rise in the amount of recycling collected between March and May, compared to the same time period in 2013.

Speaking about the kerbside collections last month, Public Services Minister Deputy, Paul Luxon, said: “The general increase we have seen in the materials collected, coupled with the fact that we have not seen a reduction in glass recycling, is a really encouraging start for kerbside. It suggests that a lot of islanders who were not recycling before have started, as it is now so much easier and more convenient.”

Read more about Guernsey’s interim recycling scheme.