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Father Christmas is not the only person who will be out and about late at night next week, making sure they get to every home in Guernsey.
Christmas and New Year is also traditionally the busiest fortnight of the year for the island’s waste and recycling teams. Although this year promises to be no different for them, it should be much simpler for most households as only parishes who have a collection on Christmas Day, which this year falls on a Sunday, are affected. They should set out two days early on Friday 23rd instead.
All other collections will continue as normal, including Sunday 1st (New Year’s Day). If anyone is unsure of what materials to put out each week, they can check at Household recycling and bin collections.
The Household Waste & Recycling Centre at Longue Hougue will also be available for islanders to drop off any recycling and waste up until 3pm on Christmas Eve. The site will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the Bank Holiday Tuesday. It will reopen on Wednesday 28th December and be open, although usually closed on Thursdays, on Thursday 29th December before closing on New Year’s Eve at 3pm. Full opening times for all waste sites over the holiday period can be found at Waste sites opening times.
Recycling officer Tina Norman-Ross said the Christmas and New Year period is always very busy when it comes to waste and recycling.
“This is the peak time of the year for waste and recycling, so we are encouraging everyone to be conscious of what they are producing, and reduce, reuse and recycle as much as they can. To help, we provide a lot of information on our website Waste & Recycling, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram throughout the Christmas and New Year period.
“We are really proud of islanders’ efforts and last year we recycled more than 70% of our household waste which is a phenomenal achievement and puts us up there with the very best.’’
“Each week we pick up more than 185 tonnes of materials for recycling – food waste, paper, cardboard, plastic, tins, cartons and glass. That is even more than the weight of an adult blue whale – the largest animal on the planet.
“Santa won’t be the only one working late at night this Christmas to make sure he gets to every home in Guernsey (whether they have been naughty or nice!). If we are lucky, most of us will get the opportunity to put our feet up for some time over the holiday. We should perhaps spare a thought for, and maybe raise a glass to, all the parish collection crews and the staff at the various waste sites, as this is their busiest time of the year.”
