Wednesday 20 March 2024
The new green waste site at Mont Cuet will open later in the summer months to give islanders more chance to use the site after working hours, at weekends and on bank holidays.
The drop off point for household garden waste will shortly be relocated to enable Ronez to begin quarrying at Chouet headland.
A new drop-off site is being created at the nearby Mont Cuet landfill site, where all household garden waste is currently processed along with material from commercial operators.
The current site at Chouet will close for the last time on Tuesday 2 April at 4pm and then the new drop off site for household green waste will open on Wednesday 3 April at 10am.
The new facility will operate in a similar way as the Chouet site as an open drop off area.
The opportunity has been taken to review the opening hours to better meet customer demand while balancing operating costs.
This includes opening and closing the site two hours later on weekdays and opening the site on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer.
Winter opening hours will be reduced, closing on the days when there is historically low usage, in order to keep operating costs down.
Guernsey Waste Operations Manager Sarah Robinson said: "The new opening times are intended to align with customer demand, which reflects the seasons. The new operating times will give islanders the chance to access the green waste site after working hours in the summer months and on Sunday afternoons and Bank Holidays.
"As a result, we have reduced the opening times during the winter to keep operating costs down while remaining open at the busier times."
As the new site is smaller than the current site, it is anticipated the green waste will need to be cleared daily and this will take place each morning before the site opens.
Guernsey Waste Minimisation & Sustainability Officer, Douglas Button, said there are alternatives that enable islanders to deal with some of their garden waste at home.
"Rather than rely on the drop off facility for all their garden waste, islanders are encouraged to compost at home along with any suitable kitchen waste. As well as helping to divert some of the 4,000 tonnes of green waste currently taken to Chouet each year, this also has benefits for households. It saves them the trouble of having to drop off their green waste somewhere, but will also provide them with a lovely, nutrient rich compost, free of charge."
Subsidised home composting kits are available from local garden centres for £10. They include a compost bin and kitchen caddy, and a guide to getting started. More information and advice is also available at www.gov.gg/composting
Soil conditioner produced from the green waste will continue to be available at the new site for islanders to take away free of charge.
The opening hours with effect from 3rd April 2024:
British Summer Time (for 2024: up to and including 26 October)
Monday to Sunday open 10:00 - 18:00 (Closed Thursdays)
Bank Holidays open 10:00 - 18:00
Winter (for 2024: 27 October onwards)
Saturday to Monday open 10:00 - 16:00
