Isle of Man Government 2018 Waste Strategy

One of the by-products of the Island's economy, the day to day activity of its residents, is waste – some of which is potentially harmful to the environment and people, some can be reused or recycled, and some needs to be disposed of. The Island's residents, commercial and industrial sectors need to know that when waste is produced there are facilities and schemes in place to manage waste, sustainably, both now and in the future. The Island therefore needs a Waste Strategy.

At its sitting in July 2018 Tynwald approved a new Waste Strategy for the Island, replacing the IOM 2012-2020 Waste Policy and Strategy. The focus and format of the 2018 Waste Strategy reflects the context within which the Isle of Man as an island and an independent jurisdiction aims to manage its waste sustainably (Figure 1) and economically. Figure 2 indicates the types of waste infrastructure needed by the Island to support economic activity and deliver sustainable wastes management. These are identified in order of priority.

Unlike previous Strategies, the 2018 Strategy is not a single printed document. By its very nature a Strategy document, once published, is almost out of date the moment it is finalised, and its relevance in advising contemporary decision making decreases with age. The 2018 Strategy format is intended to be flexible, responsive and iterative. It will be updated as data and information becomes available and provides a mechanism for responding to issues as they arise. It comprises the following three elements which will be published on-line and replaced when updated:

Core Strategy – Principles and Key Policies         

Approved by Tynwald, these overarching Principles and Key Policies are the Islands response to the Waste Hierarchy and the aim of self-sufficiency. They provide the framework within which the Island aims to manage its waste. The 2018 approved Policies can be read in the 2018 Waste Strategy. 

Annual Statement of Need 

The Annual Statement of Need will identify any shortfall in on-Island waste management capacity and highlight issues accessing UK or EU waste management facilities or markets. It will be populated over time with data on waste (eg facility type and capacity, arisings) and will provide a test for need when a planning application is submitted for a new or expanded waste management facility. It will also include an annual update on the Technical Reports. 

Technical Reports 

Attached to, and advising, the Core Strategy will be a series of approved Technical Reports containing the information the Island needs to manage its waste. The Technical Reports will progressed in consultation with key stakeholders and, where necessary, specialist technical advisors.

The Reports will consider and advise on a range of waste issues, for example:

• developing Isle of Man household waste targets for residual waste composition
• managing construction and demolition projects to reduce waste
• waste collection systems review

The Reports will also act as technical reference documents providing, for example, the methodology for, and results of, household baseline waste audits.

Figure 1 - The isle of Man response to the Waste Hierarchy

The Waste Hierarchy	IOM Response
Reduce	IOM relies on UK and European initiatives and legislation to drive waste reduction and reduction in hazardness of waste.
	Promote waste reduction through education, Support DEFA's Single Use Plastic Action Plan
Reuse	Current reuse systems (charity shops etc.) are working well. No need for intervention.
	Promote waste reuse through education
Recycle	Household waste: take forward the work of the Waste Working Groups; undertake baseline waste audits; focus on targeted recyclables; review options for incentivising recycling; prepare a household waste strategy
	Consider amending the responsibility for waste collection to facilitate an all island recycling strategy
	Ensure continued access to markets off Island especially for hazardous, WEEE and non-incinerable wastes.
Disposal - Energy From Waste	Provide strategic residual waste disposal capacity on Island
Disposal Landfill	Provide strategic residual waste disposal capacity on Island and ensure continued access to off- island disposal facilities for hazardous wastes

Figure 2 - The Waste Infrastructure Hierarchy

Order of priority	Facility / Scheme
1	Disposable capacity for:
	Incinerable waste (EfW)
	Non-incinerable waste - hazardous - problematic - inert
2	Access to Recycling Schemes for:
	- hazardous waste - non incinerable waste - high embodied carbon waste (e.g. plastic)
3	Access to Schemes for:
	reusing waste
	reducing the amount or hazardousness of waste

The aim is to publish the first Annual Statement of Need before the end of 2019. Thereafter it will be published annually, as soon as possible after the end of the financial year, 31 March.

The list of projects to be progressed as Technical Reports will be available in September 2019.

Any queries, please see the Waste Management's webpage for contact details.