ONCHAN residents are producing less rubbish despite the end of their kerbside recycling scheme two years ago.
Latest commissioners’ figures show the annual volume of waste per person averaged 345kg – part of a downward trend which has seen a 17 per cent fall since 2005.
The authority’s chief executive Malcolm Hulme said the average household’s wheelie bin waste had gone down by 150kg per year over the past seven years, a 735kg fall overall per household since 2005.
‘That is a fantastic achievement. In total 650 tonnes of waste per year are now being diverted away from the Energy From Waste plant. This represents a saving to our ratepayers of £22,750 in disposal costs,’ he said.
The news allays fears that the 2010 decision to end the kerbside recycling scheme after a three-year government trial would increase the volume of rubbish going into people’s bins.
Mr Hulme said: ‘The commissioners at that time determined that the annual cost of £100,000 for the kerbside scheme could not be justified on financial or environmental grounds.
‘When Onchan withdrew, the weight of domestic waste did not rise. In fact, it continued to fall, despite an increase in population that would normally have produced an additional 250 tonnes.
‘This suggests that our residents’ support for recycling has been maintained and that the bring-banks are being well utilised.’
Member for environmental and technical services on the Onchan board, Derek Crellin, said their objective was to avoid any drop in the 350 tonnes per year of material which had been recycled by the kerbside scheme. This had been achieved.
‘We began with three new bring-bank sites, short listed from nine options originally under consideration. Our recycling rate from those three locations is currently estimated to be in excess of 150 tonnes per year. In addition, the Government’s own bring-banks continue to be used,’ he said.
‘I want to congratulate everyone living or working in Onchan. I hope everyone is encouraged to continue recycling.’
