Select a region
Efforts to further improve Guernsey's recycling rate are ramping up this week as part of a national campaign.
The campaign is focusing on three common questions which Guernsey Waste recycling officer, Tina Norman Ross, says many people may need to consider.
These questions are:
Mrs Norman Ross said considering these questions can help Guernsey recycle even more.
Pictured: Tina Norman Ross promoting a previous campaign to 'love food, hate waste'.
"This year’s Recycle Week’s campaign to Get Real is an important ongoing message to raise awareness about the importance of getting it right.’’
Among her top tips for this week are to ensure we all wash out containers before recycling them in our blue or clean bags.
"The island has a great track record as far as recycling goes, but by getting our recycling right we can also have a greater impact. One wrong item in the recycling bin from each of us could make a whole lorry load unrecyclable," she said.
A recent local study into contamination showed that the biggest concern was in blue bags, because of food containers not being emptied properly or not being rinsed out. That causes issues for the households themselves, as well as the staff who subsequently sort the items by hand.
Mrs Norman Ross said this is a key issue because it is quality not quantity that counts when we're putting out our bags.
"One message that has always been important to us is that with recycling, it’s not just about quantity. Quality also counts, and because islanders have been so good in the past, we’ve always been able to secure markets for our materials."
To ensure the recycling placed in the blue or clear bags are of the best quality, Guernsey Waste has shared these top five tips:
Tissues and paper towels are unsuitable for recycling and should be disposed of in general waste.
When recycling food containers, be sure to scrape any leftovers into your food waste caddy, before giving them a quick rinse.
Make sure aerosols are empty before putting them in your blue bag.
Clean polythene and bubblewrap should go to Longue Hougue Household Waste & Recycling centre, not in blue bags.
Before recycling food trays and tubs, peel off any film lid completely and pop that in the bin.
Pictured: St James will be lit up green this week.
The national recycling campaign is aimed at providing recycling information and insights to answer any questions and to clarify that by recycling everyone can make a difference regarding the good that recycling does in terms of saving energy, reducing carbon emissions, and preserving resources.
As part of the awareness campaign, St James Concert Hall will be joining iconic buildings across Northern Ireland and England in turning green.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.