Recycling Statistics
Since 2006, the amount of waste recycled by local households has nearly doubled with nine out of ten households now regularly recycling and nearly half of them also helping to reduce waste by composting at home*.
Guernsey is now recycling nearly half of its household waste reaching 46.4% in the year ending 31st December 2011.
In 2010 the Public Services Department commissioned a survey and, using a combination of online questionnaire and on-street interviews, it asked 500 local households about their recycling habits.
92% of households in the survey said they currently recycled, with more than half of them (57%) visiting the bring banks once a week.
Paper was the popular material, with more than 97% of recyclers dropping this off at the bring banks. This was followed by cardboard (93%), glass bottles and jars (91%) and plastic packaging (88%). Tins and cans, clothing and shoes, and drinks cartons were also all above 80%.
Among the common household items that can be recycled locally but are often missed were low energy light bulbs (87%), aerosols (72%), batteries (59%), and polystyrene packaging (52%).
In term of age groups, over 65s were the most likely to recycle, with nearly 98% of those surveyed saying that they were regular visitors to the bring bank sites. This compared to just 82% of 18 to 25 year olds, part of the reason for this could be because more young people live in smaller homes.
Guernsey new Waste Strategy sets out the following challenging targets for household and commercial waste:
- 50% recycling by 2013
- 60% recycling by 2018
- 70% recycling by 2025
Detailed information on what can be recycled and where can be found here.
*Public Services Department Behaviours, perceptions and barriers to domestic recycling and home composting October 2010
