September 2 – how your 'bin night' will change

Guernsey’s new waste management regime comes into force from September 2 and will affect every household in the island and, of course, the Vale.

The aim is to improve the way we manage waste, to make it easier to recycle and encourage homes to reduce the amount they produce. ‘This will get maximum benefit from the everyday materials we throw away and reduce our use of valuable natural resources,’ says the States’ advisory leaflet.

What’s new?

Food and glass
New collections for food and glass will be introduced, and these will be free. Food will be collected weekly on your bin night – these have already been notified to you as some have changed in the island – and glass fortnightly.

Kerbside (blue and white bags)
These collections don’t change, bags will still be free, and plastic (blue) and paper (white) will alternate each week.

General rubbish
Food waste being picked up weekly and fortnightly recycling collections mean there should be less ‘other’ rubbish. This means black bag/bin collections will become fortnightly to save cost and, as the States puts it, ‘encourage waste reduction’.

How it will work:

When it's in place, the new system should operate like this:

Our website will always show the current week's bag/glass or black bag waste information for you to see at a glance.

The cost
The new system of charges for the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ regime come into effect next year and includes an element of ‘pay as you throw’. The States says this will work out at about £6 a week per household. We'll give you more information nearer the time.

What goes into your bags and containers from September 2:

Clear bag
Clean and uncontaminated cardboard, paper, magazines, envelopes and unwanted circulars. 

Blue bag
Milk and food cartons, tins and cans, empty aerosol containers, plastic tops and lids, plus aluminium containers and foil. Plastic bottles, tubs, trays and pots, packaging from food, drink, cosmetics, toiletries, cleaning products, and so on. Food and drink cartons and also accepted if they are clean and rinsed out. 

Black bag/non-food waste
Black plastic, thin film, crisp packets, paper or card contaminated with food, nappies, plastic bags and plastic items other than packaging

Glass bag
Any clean glass, bottles or jars

Food waste 
All leftover food. This includes tea bags and coffee grounds and things like egg shells, vegetables and fruit plus peelings. This category does not include liquids such as milk, oil or liquid fat.

For further details relating to the kerbside recycling service please go to https://www.gov.gg/recycling