Move to phase out paper recycling 'short-sighted'

The phasing out paper recycling by the Manx government has been described as "short-sighted" by a Douglas Councillor.

It follows government plans to remove paper recycling banks on the basis it would save money and shipping paper off the island was no longer environmentally beneficial.

But chairman of the council's Environmental Services Committee Falk Horning said the move was wrong as it had been made on a "short-term cost saving basis".

The local authority previously confirmed it intends to keep its own paper recycling banks and would carry on collecting the material in its kerbside recycling scheme.

The government's move means that paper collected on the island would no longer be shipped to the UK for recycling, which had resulted in costs for collection and transportation, as well as the associated emissions.

The infrastructure department previously said it was no considered more efficient to burn the paper at the Energy From Waste Plant than send it to the UK for recycling.

The change, which comes into force this month, is due to the fact that paper recovered for recycling had “fallen dramatically”, from 1,600 tonnes in 2007 to 200 in 2023, it added.

But Horning said consistency was "paramount" when it came to recycling as it results in habitual changes, and the local authority was "disappointed" in the government's "short-term" outlook.

Douglas Council said it collects 160 tonnes of paper through its kerbside pick ups and accumulates 180 tonnes of paper at its recycling processing centre at Ballacottier each year.

Horning said while it was a cost-saving drive it "neglects the haulage fares" paid to the government-owned ferry firm by the council's Courier, although he acknowledged the department's savings would be greater.

The move was expected to save the department between £35,000 and £50,000 annually.

Although the changes would "make a big difference" for those outside of Douglas, it should not have a large impact on the capital's residents due to its kerbside scheme, Horning added.

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