Washed and squashed cartons end up as landfill

ABOUT 30,000 milk and juice cartons, which islanders washed and squashed for recycling, have been dumped in landfill after the load was contaminated.

States Works general manager Paul Lickley said a problem arose over the bank holiday weekend with hydraulic lifting gear which is used to lift the containers onto the back of the lorries.

'One of the hoses split and it went into the back of the compartment,' he said.

The bring bank, which contained about a tonne of cartons, was covered in the fluid.

The hopper was emptied by hand, with some cartons being taken to landfill on Monday and the rest on Tuesday. Mr Lickley said issues like this were rare.