Plastic use in Nobles canteen

Summary

The requester asked for a five-year monthly breakdown of plastic cutlery usage and costs at Nobles canteen, but Manx Care refused the request citing the substantial compilation exemption. Instead, the authority disclosed that they have been purchasing wooden or biodegradable 'vegware' cutlery for the last three years to comply with the Single Use Plastics Reduction Plan.

Key Facts

• Manx Care is not required to fulfill the request under section 11(3)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 due to the substantial compilation of information required.
• For the last three years, the canteen has purchased disposal wooden cutlery or a plant-based alternative known as 'vegware'.
• The switch to non-plastic cutlery is in response to the 'Single Use Plastics Reduction Plan for the Isle of Man Government' established in 2018.
• The request was received on 2 June 2021 and the response was issued on 30 June 2021.
• The requester has the right to request an internal review or appeal to the Information Commissioner if dissatisfied.

Data Disclosed

• 2021-06-02
• 2021-06-30
• 1820933
• last 5 years
• last three years
• 2018
• section 11(3)(b)

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (substantial compilation or collation of information)

Original Request

Can you please provide a breakdown over the last 5 years, per month on how much plastic cutlery has been used and the cost associated with this..

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Manx Care Noble’s Hospital, Strang Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 4R (01624) 650 000

Our ref: 1820933 30th June 2021

Dear ###

This request is being handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2015.

We write further to your request which was received on 2 June 2021 and which states:

"Can you please provide a breakdown over the last 5 years, per month on how much plastic cutlery has been used and the cost associated with this.."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, complying with your request for information would require Manx Care to undertake substantial compilation or collation of information that it hold, which Manx Care is not required to do under section 11(3)(b) of the Act. However, we can advise that for the last three years we have been purchasing disposal wooden cutlery or, when this is unavailable, a plant based alternative to plastic known as ‘vegware’ that is biodegradable and can be composted. This is in response to the “Single Use Plastics Reduction Plan for the Isle of Man Government” established in 2018. Please see Appendix 1 for more information. Please quote the reference number 1820933 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on;

1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or
2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
   In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.