Waste strategy to cut costs and boost recycling
BBCA new 10-year waste management strategy has been drawn up by the Manx government to make the system more financially viable and environmentally sound.
The plan, developed by the Department of Infrastructure (DoI) and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA), will go before Tynwald for a vote in January.
Under the proposals, local authorities will continue to collect household waste - a legal requirement under the Public Health Act - but changes could be made to the way the island's four civic amenity sites operate.
These include greater use of bring banks and introducing "service levels" to address variations in recycling provision.
The government is also considering making reuse sheds - where people can leave items to be reused - a legal requirement at amenity sites.
Funding the scheme will be built into local authority rates, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said.
Data-focused
Away from the sites, the DoI would work with councils and contractors to improve collection efficiency and apply service stands.
Investment is planned for recycling centres and reuse hubs, with funding prioritised based on "waste flow data".
A waste audit will be carried out before the scheme begins and repeated periodically to monitor progress.
Public education campaigns will also aim to encourage behavioural change and raise awareness of recycling, reuse and hazardous waste disposal.
Infrastructure minister Michelle Haywood and environment minister Clare Barber said: "The landscape of waste management is ever-changing and a strategy that can adapt over time is needed.
"This strategy is not positioned to address every potential waste scenario we face, but its principles will enable us to make informed decisions to achieve the best outcomes for our island."
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