Arts centre to turn green for recycling week

St James arts centre in St Peter Port aims to shine a light on recycling by illuminating the building in green

A Guernsey arts centre will be lit up in green for Recycle Week, joining public buildings across the UK, the States announced.

St James, in St Peter Port, will join buildings including Hull Minster, Leeds City Museum and Ipswich Town Hall in aiming to shine a light on recycling locally.

This year's Recycle Week, the UK's largest awareness campaign on the topic, focuses on encouraging people to recycle packaging that is often disposed of in normal bins, such as aerosols, aluminium cans and food trays.

Douglas Button, from Guernsey Waste, said: "The island has a great track record as far as recycling goes, we have one of the highest household recycling rates in the whole of Europe, at 68%."

However, he said reminding islanders "about recyclable items around the home that find their way in the wrong bag" could help Guernsey reach its target of 70% by 2030.

Mr Button said: "As an example, making an aluminium can or tin from recycled material uses 95% less energy than manufacturing one from raw materials.

"We can all make a difference through recycling in terms of saving energy, reducing carbon emissions, and preserving resources."

Slight drop in recycling

A newly-published report by the States showed that household and commercial recycling had dropped slightly.

The States' Annual Waste Management Report, which was published this week, said 53% of commercial waste was recycled, reused or composted in 2023, down 1% since the year before.

Recycling of household waste, which makes up just over a third of the island's waste, was also down 1%.

Overall, Guernsey produced nearly 24,000 tonnes of household waste and more than 39,800 of commercial waste, the report said.

Top recycling tips

Guernsey Waste issued five tips to islanders about recycling as part of the week, which is organised by charity the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

• Before recycling food containers please make sure to scrape out any leftovers into your food waste caddy, and then give them a quick rinse

• Make sure to only put tins & cans, aluminium foil & trays, aerosols (completely empty), and plastic pots, tubs, trays and bottles in your blue bag. NO polythene, carrier bags, crisp packets or pet food pouches

• Check your bathrooms and other areas of your home for toiletry bottles, cardboard toilet roll inners, newspapers and magazines

• Tissues and paper towels are unsuitable for recycling and should be disposed of in general waste

• Battery operated and electrical items such as vapes, toothbrushes and mobile phones should not go in recycling or general waste bags. Instead take them to Longue Hougue Household Waste and Recycling Centre