Temporary skips ban at waste plant lifted

But more stringent checks have been introduced

The Department of Infrastructure says a temporary ban on skip waste has had the desired effect of reducing sulphur dioxide emissions from the Island's Energy from Waste plant.

The closure of the facility to skip operators was introduced with just a few minutes notice on 31 October. 

The restrictions caused problems for businesses which had to store large quantities of waste and turn away customers. 

Operators SUEZ have today (3 November) re-opened the plant to skip operators but with more stringent checks.

In correspondence seen by Manx Radio the DoI's Waste Management Unit warns operators that the delivery of non-conforming waste is putting the entire waste management system at risk.

In another email sent out yesterday it said the temporary ban had had the desired effect of reducing SO2 emissions but claimed a substantial sum has been spent remedying the issue.

As a result strict rules around skip load deliveries have been introduced to ensure the plant doesn't end up in the same situation in future.

The DoI warns that should SO2 levels increase again they will need to implement an alternative delivery system to help identify which company is responsible for the continuing emissions problem.

Where plasterboard or plaster is found in the future the loads will be re-loaded entirely and sent off the EFW site.

It's understood some operators feel the blanket ban, which inevitably also affected businesses that have operated within the rules, was unfair and forced them to turn customers away.

All skips arriving at the EFW plant are emptied into an inspection bay and the contents checked. 

Skip operators believe the biggest threat of non-conforming materials finding their way into the incinerator comes from domestic rather than commercial sources something the DoI disputes.