Guernsey Waste has asked residents to load up their recycling during stormy conditions.
Waste reduction and sustainability officer Douglas Paton said people needed to “pay attention to the weather” when taking out bags for collection.
Anything placed curbside must be “properly weighted” to avoid being blown away, he said.
However, bricks, stones or other heavy objects should not be used as they may damage the equipment.
“A terrible mess”
Island residents have also been asked to ensure they leave waste for collection by the correct date.
Guernsey Waste said recycling too early could cause “inconvenience” in bad weather.
Blue bags in particular can blow away in windy conditions, Mr Patton said.
“If they escape and spill, they could leave a terrible mess that someone has to clean up.”
“If it is very windy and you only have a small amount of lightweight recyclable waste, please consider whether it is possible to wait until the next curbside collection,” he said.
“Stronger than reusable”
Residents who lose their glass recycling bags can collect a new one instead of using replacements.
Mr Paton said the glass bags provided were specially designed for this purpose.
“They are safer for collection crews when handling glass, because they are much stronger than reusable carrier bags, so there is less chance of them breaking and causing a mess,” he said.
Island residents who have lost their glass bags or food waste cans can obtain a free replacement from the Longue Hougue Household Waste and Recycling Center, the general green waste site or any of the parish offices.
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