Islanders asked to weigh down their recycling in stormy weather

Guernsey Waste said blue recycling bags can easily blow away

Guernsey Waste has asked residents to weigh down their recycling during stormy conditions.

Waste minimisation and sustainability officer Douglas Button said people need to be "mindful of the weather" when putting out bags for collection.

He said anything placed on the kerbside should be "adequately weighted down" to avoid being blown away.

However bricks, stones or other heavy items should not be used as they could damage equipment.

'An awful mess'

Islanders were also asked to make sure waste was left for collection on the correct date.

Guernsey Waste said recycling put out too early can cause a "nuisance" in bad weather.

Mr Button said blue bags in particular can be blown around in windy conditions.

"If they do escape and their contents spill out, they can leave an awful mess that someone has to clear up."

"If it is very windy and you only have a small amount of light weight recyclable waste, please consider whether it could wait until your next kerbside collection," he said.

'Stronger than reusable'

Residents who have lost their glass recycling bags can collect a new one instead of using alternatives.

Mr Button said the glass bags provided were specifically designed for their purpose.

"They are safer for the collection crews when handling glass, as they are much stronger than reusable carrier bags, so there's less chance of them breaking and causing a mess," he said.

Islanders who have lost their glass bags or food waste caddies can pick up a replacement, free of charge from the Household Waste & Recycling Centre at Longue Hougue, the public green waste site or any of the Parish offices.