Certain items can cause serious injury if they are not disposed of correctly.
In some instances, it is the items themselves that pose a risk, such as batteries, which could cause a fire if they are damaged. Or it may be the contents that can be dangerous, such as with gas canisters or aerosols.
There have been numerous instances where careless disposal of items has caused extensive damage to machinery and property. Plus they can present a significant pollution hazard, which is both bad for the environment and can pose major health risks.
So please check the list below, and be extra careful if you ever have to dispose of any of these items. Most of them should never be disposed of in your recycling or general waste, so Check Before You Chuck and follow the advice on how to dispose of them correctly. That way we can all stay safe.
Click here if you would like to find out the opening times for any of our waste sites.
If you wish to dispose of any of the below items on behalf of a business, please refer to the commercial waste guidance here.
| Aerosols | Provided they are empty, aerosols CAN be disposed of in blue kerbside recycling bag - preferably with the plastic lid off, which can also go in the same bag. HOWEVER, aerosol cans should NOT not be put in a recycling bag or in general waste if they still have any of the contents in. If that is the case, they should be dropped off free of charge at the Household Waste & Recycling Centre at Longue Hougue (www.gov.gg/hwrc). |
| Asbestos | Materials that contain asbestos, even in small amounts, can be a significant risk to health and should therefore be treated very carefully. Before commencing work, if you have any concerns or are unsure if asbestos is present please, contact the Health and Safety Executive on 220010 or email hse@gov.gg. Asbestos materials can only be disposed of at the Mont Cuet Landfill Site. - "Bonded asbestos" is only accepted on Wednesdays and Fridays, between 8am and 12pm. - "Fibrous Asbestos" is only accepted by appointment. Please call 245106 to arrange disposal. |
| Electrical items | Electrical items can be dropped off free of charge at the Household Waste & Recycling Centre at Longue Hougue (www.gov.gg/hwrc). |
Flares | Unwanted, expired or used flares can be taken free of charge to: - AB Marine (White Rock, St Peter Port) - Boatworks + (Model Yacht Pond, St Peter Port) - Marine & General Chandlery (St Sampson's Harbour) - Sunsport Marine (St Sampson's Harbour) |
| Gas canisters | Gas canisters for domestic use can be taken to the Household Waste & Recycling Centre at Longue Hougue free of charge (www.gov.gg/hwrc). Guernsey Gas will collect their own gas bottles. |
| Household batteries | Household batteries can be recycled at the Household Waste & Recycling Centre (www.gov.gg/hwrc), or at Waitrose, Co-Op Grand Marche Stores, Aladdin's Cave and at all schools. |
Lithium batteries | Found in watches, calculators, e-cigarettes, computer tablets, laptops, digital cameras, mobile phones and other small electrical items. Households can drop off any items that contain batteries and the batteries themselves free of charge at the Household Waste & Recycling Centre at Longue Hougue (www.gov.gg/hwrc). |
| Metal objects | Household items such as metal poles, pipes, car parts, kitchen knives etc. should be taken to the Household Waste & Recycling Centre (www.gov.gg/hwrc). |
| Mobile phones | Mobile phones, which contain potentially flammable lithium batteries, can be recycled at the Household Waste & Recycling Centre (www.gov.gg/hwrc). There are also various phone recycling companies available through the Internet, many of which will pay for used mobiles. |
| Munitions | Contact Guernsey Police on 01481 222222. |
| Smoke alarms | Smoke alarms (and carbon monoxide alarms) for domestic use can be taken to the Household Waste & Recycling Centre at Longue Hougue, free of charge (www.gov.gg/hwrc). |
For further information and advice please contact the Hazardous Waste Technical Officer on 229729 or email hazardouswaste@gov.gg.
