23 August 2006
People in Jersey are being encouraged to recycle all their bottles and cans from barbeques, parties and get-togethers this summer.
More than 100, 000 barbeques took place in 2005 and that number could be even greater this year. With the last bank holiday weekend of the year approaching, it’s a great opportunity for islanders to get into the recycling habit and see how easy it is.
John Rive, Recycling Officer for Transport and Technical Services says: "There are lots of simple ways people can make their barbeques greener, whether it’s using your own crockery and cutlery rather than paper plates and plastic knives and forks, buying loose fruit and vegetables with less packaging or remembering to recycle empty bottles and cans."
Barbeque planning top tips
John Rive, Recycling Officer says: "The unpredictable Jersey weather means many people leave their barbeque planning and shopping to the last minute. Hurried menu planning, last minute choices and worries about having enough for everyone to eat can lead to over catering and increased waste. Taking just a few minutes to write a list before heading out to the shops can make all the difference and reduce waste."
Top tips on reducing waste and recycling while you barbeque:
At the shops:
- Try and confirm how many people you are catering for so you buy only what you need.
- Plan ahead and make a shopping list. Pick a few of your favourite BBQ recipes – marinades, salads, main courses or desserts – and make sure you include any special ingredients on your list. It saves a second trip to the shops if you’ve forgotten something and also avoids waste, as you’ll only buy what you need.
- Buy your fruit and vegetables loose and not pre-packed and look for other barbeque goodies with less packaging. This is good for your pocket as you are buying what you really need and means there is less packaging in your bin. You also get to choose the best items.
- Buy freezer packs of bread rolls so you can save and re-use what you don’t need.
- Limit the number of throwaway products – buy a barbeque you can re-use instead of disposable ones.
At home:
- Use your own cutlery and crockery rather than paper plates and plastic knives and forks – there’ll be less to go in your bin.
- Why not use a glass hire service instead of plastic cups?
- Keep meat in the fridge and only bring out food to be cooked when needed. You can freeze what you don’t cook and avoid throwing away too much unused food if you bring it all out at once.
- Avoid putting out large quantities of perishable food – bread, salads, and fruit. In an average week, three out of five people throw away a bag of salad and a loaf of bread. Use smaller serving dishes and top them up.
After the barbeque:
- Re-use small glass jars at your next barbeque to hold tea light candles, or add lemon halves to deter midges and flies.
- Wash and keep any re-sealable food containers and re-use to freeze leftover food for next time.
- Keep any fruit and vegetable peelings, and uncooked leftover food e.g. salads, but not meat or dairy products, and put it in your home compost bin – a third of what we throw away could easily be transformed into excellent compost to make your garden bloom. Home composting kits are subsidised by the States of Jersey and available from most garden centres for £10.
For further information, log on to www.gov.je/recycling or email the Recycling Team at recycle@gov.je
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