Reminder of recycling rules as bags not collected

Due to the current levels of contamination blue bags were having to undergo additional sorting, the States of Guernsey said

People in Guernsey have been asked to be mindful of which plastic items they put in their kerbside recycling after some were left uncollected.

The States of Guernsey said while plastic bottles, tubs, pots and trays were items suitable for the blue recycling bags, polythene and other thin film plastic items like carrier bags and crisp packets could not currently be recycled.

Pet food pouches, biscuit wrappers, cling film, and peel-off lids would also be considered "contamination", it added.

It said dirty containers still containing food contents or residues were also likely to be left behind - but if they were clean, they could be included in blue bags.

'Break the cycle'

The States said because of the current levels of contamination, blue bags were having to undergo additional sorting, to avoid materials being rejected by processors - incurring unnecessary extra cost.

It said collection contractors were beginning to clamp down on contamination by leaving bags behind which contained unsuitable items.

Guernsey Waste contracts and compliance manager Rachel Lowe said: "This is absolutely not about making life difficult for households.

"We appreciate the inconvenience of having your bag left behind.

"However if you put out the wrong materials for collection and they still get picked up, you naturally assume you have put in the correct items.

"The only way to break the cycle is if it gets left behind."

In a post on facebook, Recycling for Guernsey said it knew most people were trying to "do the right thing".

"It really doesn't help that some manufacturers using this packaging claim it can be recycled," it said.

"We can't – at least not yet, because although the material is technically recyclable, there is simply not the processing capacity in the UK to deal with all the packaging out there. So the problem is not unique to Guernsey."

Recycling Guernsey said thin film plastics should be disposed of along with general waste.