Deputy Public Services minister Scott Ogier and Brenda Petsche of HSBC Securities Services, which is funding the collection and shipment of the cartons, get Wash and Squash under way. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0653245)

ISLANDERS will be able to recycle paper-based food and drink cartons from the end of next week.

Wash and Squash is a partnership between the Public Services Department and the private sector that will enable items such as milk cartons to be recycled at no cost to the taxpayer.

Deputy Public Services minister Scott Ogier said the scheme was the latest in a series of initiatives designed to reduce the reliance on landfill which already includes the Longue Hougue recycling site and green-waste composting.

‘We’ve still got targets to meet but we can achieve these if the public and local businesses get behind these initiatives,’ he said. HSBC will provide £40,000 over the next two years to fund the collection and shipment of the containers.

Collection bins provided by packaging manufacturer Tetra Pak and the industry body, the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment, will be at eight sites: Safeway, Salerie Corner, L’Eree, Manor Stores, Longfrie, Chouet headland, Vazon and Cobo.