Poppy recycling scheme to raise further funds

Monday 12 November 2018

The Royal British Legion will benefit from a new way of raising money as poppies are recycled in Guernsey for the first time.

By collecting this year's poppies through Guernsey's Co-op stores, production costs for poppies for the 2019 commemorations will be reduced.

The Channel Islands Co-operative Society will run its poppy recycling collection from today until 30 November with boxes on display at the Grand Marché stores in St Martin and St Sampson. 

Any donated poppies will be collected and shipped to the UK where they will join a national recycling scheme that sees the poppies broken down into their component parts and either recycled or repurposed into new poppies for next year’s appeal. 

Channel Islands courier company, Transfer2000, will transport the poppies to the Royal British Legion Village branch in Aylesford, Kent where the poppies will be sorted. 

Mark Cox, Chief Operations Officer at The Channel Islands Co-operative Society, said: 

“We are proud to be involved in this scheme which is a first of its kind in the Channel Islands. The Channel Islands Co-operative Society are always looking for ways in which we can reduce our carbon footprint and this scheme is another example of our commitment to recycling and reducing plastic waste.” 

David Wyatt, Chairman of The Royal British Legion, Guernsey Central Committee, said: 

“Recycling poppies is an important initiative and we are delighted that The Co-operative Society is supporting us. It will help The Royal British Legion raise further funds for the Poppy Appeal 2018 by keeping the production of poppy costs down and it also shows that we are looking after our Island environment by helping to reduce plastic and paper waste. We encourage Islanders to recycle their poppies after Armistice Day.” 

Pictured top: The poppies can be recycled at either Grande Marché stores in Guernsey.