Greener Guernsey: Your guide to sustainable waste and recycling
Guernsey is proud of its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Thanks to a well-organised waste strategy and a community that cares, recycling here is not only easy - it’s part of everyday life.
Whether you’ve just moved to the island or want to refresh your knowledge, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about recycling and waste collection in Guernsey.
1. How do I recycle in Guernsey?
Recycling in Guernsey is simple, efficient and part of everyday life. Most households have weekly kerbside recycling collections, making it easy to sort and dispose of waste responsibly. Here’s how it works:
- Food Waste: Use the black kerbside caddy
- Clear Bag: For paper and cardboard
- Blue Bag: For plastics, tins, cans, foil, and cartons
- Glass Bag: For bottles and jars (no Pyrex or drinking glasses)
- Black Bag: For general waste (requires a paid sticker)
Recycling bags and food caddies are free and available from the Household Waste & Recycling Centre or your parish constables.
2. Where can I take other items?
For items that can't be collected at the kerbside, Guernsey offers other drop-off locations:
- Longue Hougue Household Waste & Recycling Centre: Accepts a wide range of items including electronics, furniture, and hazardous waste.
- Mont Cuet Household green waste site: Ideal for garden waste and compostable materials
Click here for up to date opening hours.
3. How is it paid for?
There are two elements to paying for your Household Waste; the Pay As You Throw charge and the annual Waste Disposal Authority Bill:
- Pay as you throw: This system requires residents to buy and attach stickers to black bags of general waste
- Orange sticker: Up to 50 litres (kitchen bin size)
- Green sticker: Up to 90 litres (dustbin size)
- Waste Disposal Authority Bill: An annual fixed charge sent to property owners each January. This helps fund the island’s waste and recycling infrastructure
4. How do I find out my bin night?
Not sure when to put your bags out? It’s easy to check your Guernsey bin collection schedule:
- Visit gov.gg/mybinnight
- Enter your house name or postcode
- The site will show your collection schedule and bag colour for the week
5. Why recycling in Guernsey matters
Recycling isn’t just about managing waste - it’s about protecting Guernsey’s natural beauty and reducing our environmental impact. By following the island's waste strategy, you're helping to:
- Reduce landfill use
- Lower greenhouse gas emissions
- Support a circular economy
- Preserve Guernsey's environment for future generations
If you are considering relocating to the island, the team at Locate Guernsey are on hand to provide confidential guidance throughout your relocation journey free of charge. If you would like to understand how Guernsey could work for you, please get in touch:
