Fallen Stock and Animal Waste Processing Plant

Original Request

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2015, I am requesting the following information held by Department of Infrastructure. Please provide all external and internal communications with the following titles and/or references within content of communication/documentation;- * 'Animal Waste Processing Plant' or AWPP or both * 'fallen stock, animal by-product (ABP) or both * Animal By-Product Regulations 2019, the Collection and Disposal of Waste Regulations 2000 or both, where it is used in reference to the Animal Waste Processing Plant (AWPP), fallen stock, animal by-product, or any of these references. Timeframe: from 1st September 2023 to 5th September 2025. For the timeframe above, please include; * Emails (including attachments), internal and external messages, memos/notes, briefing papers, meeting agendas/minutes/notes, decision logs, internal reports, and guidance circulated internally. * Communications within the Department of Infrastructure and between the Department of Infrastructure and other Departments including but not limited to Department of Environment Food & Agriculture, Cabinet Office, Attorney General's Chambers, and any other Department where communications have referenced the above. Please include any reports or recommendations within documentation and communications. Please supply the information electronically. For emails, if possible, please provide with attachments. In order to reduce costs, you may exclude: exact duplicates, regular communications either internal or between the AWPP and Animal Health that are directly related to the specific arrangements of the collection of fallen stock, and purely administrative scheduling emails12/01/2026 LE email to requester for contact to discuss request for review -his is due to the requester getting all data without any redactions. .

Data Tables (56)

Full Response Text

Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

By way of email

Cc

Dear

Re: Animal Waste Plant Charges from 1 April 2024

Thank you for your time at our meeting of 14th February to discuss the Department’s proposed increase in charges for the Animal Waste Processing Plant (AWPP). As discussed the Department is conscious of the current financial pressures on all departments, however in order manage the AWPP budget we need to increase costs as outlined in our letter to you dated 9 January 2024.

In order to lessen the impact on DEFA and the farming community DOI propose to introduce a phased implementation of the new charges. For 2024 DOI will propose a cost share arrangement including a 33% subsidy by DOI, outlined below to help mitigate the cost increase in the coming financial year.

From 2025 the DOI subsidy will be removed and the cost passed on to the waste producers.

Item Current Price Price from 1st April 2024 Waste Producer 1/3 share DOI
1/3 share DEFA
1/3 share Farms £ per item £ per item £ per item £ per item £ per item Bulls
£53.55 £351.00 £117.00 £117.00 £117.00 Horses
£48.20 £210.60 £70.20 £70.20 £70.20 Cows
£48.20 £210.60 £70.20 £70.20 £70.20 Juveniles
£26.78 £122.85 £40.95 £40.95 £40.95 Calves & goats
£5.36 £17.55 £5.85 £5.85 £5.85 Sheep £5.36 £17.55 £5.85 £5.85 £5.85 Bags of lambs £2.14 £7.02 £2.34 £2.34 £2.34 Pigs £6.43 £28.08 £9.36 £9.36 £9.36 Meat plant

£ per tonne £ per tonne £ per tonne £ per tonne £ per tonne Material £42.84 £351.00 £117.00 £117.00 £117.00 blood £0.00 £351.00 £117.00 £117.00 £117.00 Other Fish
£85.68 £351.00 £117.00 £117.00 £117.00

Contact:

Telephone: (01624)

Email:

Date: 26th February 2024

Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 I trust that this proposal goes some way to addressing your concerns over the cost increase proposed and allows time for the users of the AWPP services to plan for the full implementation of the cost increases in 2025. Yours sincerely Jeff Robinson Interim Deputy Chief Officer On 26 Apr 2024, at 14:46, Saunders, Gary <

wrote: Dear I have been asked to respond to your email to Emily regarding the proposed fallen stock rates. The Department is planning to increase the rates for fallen stock and has thus far consulted with DEFA regarding the proposed increases. The next step of our consultation was to meet with MNFU and IOM Meat Plant to apprise you of the Department’s position. Historically the Department has been subsidising the farming community through the Animal Waste Processing Plant by operating the plant at rates incompatible with the operational costs of the facility. This situation has resulted in the Department incurring a significant operating deficit which disguises the true cost of animal husbandry on the island. Unfortunately this is now an unsustainable position for the Department. The Department would welcome the opportunity to meet with you at the earliest opportunity. I’d be grateful if you could suggest some suitable times to meet with your committee. Regards Gary Gary Saunders IEng, IMIStructE, MICE, FIHE, MaPS, NECReg NEC4 Accredited Project Manager Head of Project Delivery/Acting Head of Waste Management Highway Services Division Department of Infrastructure Ellerslie Depot Crosby Isle of Man, IM4 2HA Tel: 01624 Mob: 07624 email: Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 From: Quayle, John (DOI) To: Subject: FW: AWPP Price increases Date: 30 May 2024 10:35:17 Attachments: V2_RGR10052024_AWPP_Price increases.docx image001.png image002.png From: Greenwood, Rita (DOI) Sent: 30 May 2024 10:34 To: Quayle, John (DOI) Subject: FW: AWPP Price increases FYI Kind regards Rita Greenwood MSc EDM Head of Waste Management Unit Department of Infrastructure Tel 01624 http://www.twitter.com/iominfra http://www.facebook.com/iominfrastructure Please don't print unless you have to DOI Values: Communication; Respect; Teamwork; Recognition; Trust; Customer Service. From: Greenwood, Rita (DOI) Sent: 30 May 2024 10:30 To: ' ' <

Cc: Curphey, Emily < ; < ; Robinson, Jeffrey

Subject: AWPP Price increases Dear Thank you for the meeting last week. Due to the financial losses to the DoI for the operations of the Animal Waste Processing Plant, the price increase from the 1st July for the disposal of animal waste will be: Fallen stock Current 2024 Bulls £53.55 £152.70 Horses £48.20 £102.33 Cows £48.20 £102.33 Juveniles & donkey £26.78 £58.80 Calves & goats £5.36 £9.42 Sheep £6.43 £10.14 Bags of lambs £5.36 £5.91 Pigs £2.14 £10.79 I have copied in Emily Curphey DoI Chief Officer, DEFA Chief Officer so they are aware of the DoI’s decision. Kind regards Rita Greenwood MSc EDM Head of Waste Management Unit Department of Infrastructure Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25

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Animal Waste Process Plant Price Increases

1.0 Introduction The Department of Transport commissioned to design and build the Animal Waste Processing Plant (AWPP) which was commissioned in 2007 and is now operated by the Animal Waste Section of the Department of Infrastructure (DoI).

The AWPP is the only animal rendering plant on the Island and currently processes approximately 2,300 tonnes of waste annually with roughly one third arising from the farming community via fallen stock collections and the other two thirds from the Isle of Man Meat Plant. The AWPP provides a full rendering service for all animal waste and is the only one on the Island. In addition to that a collection and occasional slaughter service to the farming community whilst carrying the collection cost i.e. skip movement etc for Isle of Man Meat plant. Due to Waste licence, logistical and proximity to the EFW plant fish is the only waste delivered by the waste producer. The AWPP also assists DEFA in brain sampling.
2.0 Operational Costs & Revenue Due to operational reasons, breakdowns etc. the cost of operating the AWPP varies from year to year. The cost to operate the AWPP includes, staffing, training, disposal of waste from the AWPP, plant maintenance, office equipment and sundries. However the average cost to operate the plant 2021/2 & 2022/23 was £615k. It must be note although the plant has a relatively simple process breakdowns are inevitable and the plant is getting older.
The revenue received in 2022/23 from fallen stock, meat plant and fish, was £117k, table 1, revenue breakdown. This gives an operational deficit of approximately £500k,which is borne by the Department of Infrastructure. Table 1 – Revenue breakdown Fallen stock Number of fallen stock Tonnage Current Charge Income Bulls 29 1000 £53.55 £1,552.95 Horses 30 600 £48.20 £1,446.00 Cows 546 600 £48.20 £26,317.20 Juveniles & donkey 178 350 £26.78 £4,766.84 Calves & goats 724 50 £5.36 £3,880.64 Sheep 3162 80 £6.43 £20,331.66 Bags of lambs 1113 50 £5.36 £5,965.68 Pigs 22 20 £2.14 £47.08 Various 98 20 £5.36 £525.28 Meat plant

Tonnage Current Charge Income Material per tonne

1220 £42.84 £52,264.80 blood per tonne

206 £0.00 £0.00 Other

Tonnage Current Charge Income Fish per tonne

£7.00 £85.68 £599.76 Revenue total 2022/2023 £117,697.89 Section 25

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3.0 Staged Price Increases For historical reasons the Department has been subsidising various services it provides for other Government departments or the wider community. The DoI cannot continue to do this and intends to implement a version of user pays principal in all its service areas. Starting in 2024 it will introduce a price increase that covers 1/3 of the deficit with the provision to add further increases in following years. Table 2 – 2024 price increases

Fallen stock Current 2024 Bulls £53.55 £152.70 Horses £48.20 £102.33 Cows £48.20 £102.33 Juveniles & donkey £26.78 £58.80 Calves & goats £5.36 £9.42 Sheep £6.43 £10.14 Bags of lambs £5.36 £5.91 Pigs £2.14 £10.79 Meat plant
Current 2024 Material per tonne £42.84 £145.56 blood per tonne £0.00 £117.00 Other Current 2024 Fish per tonne £85.68 £174.12

1 DEPARTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE Meeting to discuss the Animal Waste Processing Plant charge increases 2024/25 at 5pm 12TH June 2024 in the Boardroom, Sea Terminal Buildings
Present: Minister Tim Crookall, DOI Minister Clare Barber (via Teams) Mr Stuart Peters (MHK), Member DOI Mrs Dawn Kinnish (MLC), Member DOI , Chief Officer, DEFA Mr Jeff Robinson, Interim Deputy Chief Officer, DOI
Mr Ken Milne, Director of Environment, DEFA Mrs Rita Greenwood, Interim Waste Manager DOI Mr Simon Renton, Environment Protection Unit Manager DEFA Mr John Quayle, Business & Contracts Manager, DOI (Notes) MTC MCB SP DK

JR KM RG SR JQ Apologies: Ms Tanya August-Hanson (MLC),
Mrs Emily Curphey, Chief Officer, DOI TA-H EC Introduction JR commented that: • In response to an unsustainable fiscal position the Department of Infrastructure (DoI) has critically reviewed its service provision. • The Animal Waste Processing Plant (AWPP) operates at an (estimated) £500,000 operating deficit per annum borne by DoI. • The AWPP is relatively small and although operated well suffers from inefficiency due to being unable to realise economies of scale. • Accepts that this will impact DEFA & farming community. • The primary objective is to save money whilst also being transparent. DEFA are firmly of the opinion DOI are moving the cost burden. repeated the argument (used by farming industry representatives in a previous meeting) that due to legislative restrictions relating to farm burial a monopoly situation has been created where the farmers have no choice other than the AWPP. A general discussion ensued centring round moving of cost burden and monopoly situation. JQ clarified: • Meat & bone meal (MBM), the end product/waste is disposed via the EFW plant. • Tallow is also produced and re-used as a fuel substitute during the rendering process. • Roughly 60% of the waste processed at the plant is from the IoM Meat plant, whilst 40% from the farming community etc. • The charge DoI eventually wish to pass on is £350 p/tonne. • Fallen stock collection charges have always been based on weight due to no on- board weighing equipment. Average industry weights are used per animal. • More often than not farmers are not in attendance during collections. Section 25 Section Section

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stated
• DEFA stopped price increases on other Government Depts.
• The farming industry will be looking to DEFA for financial help with the charge increases.

JR stated new charges are similar to those in the UK.

Ownership of the AWPP was discussed with DoI confirming it would be happy to transfer ownership etc. to DEFA.

MCB commented either way Govt will be paying for the shortfall.

JR reiterated there is no transparency if DoI hold the budget for a service to the farming industry.

commented that increasing the charges by so much is likely to cause illegal burials on farm. The legislation was brought in to prevent diseases such as BSE getting into water courses etc.

SR stated dead animals cannot be exported.

IOM Meats might have to look at alternatives for their waste.

DEFA financially supports both the farming community and the Isle of Man Meat Plant, and as such the true cost of animal husbandry on the Island is not transparent.

What next

• DoI & DEFA to meet with Treasury to discuss the deficit etc.

• DoI to inform DEFA of the proposition of what is being handed over.

It was confirmed both DoI & DEFA will work on answers for the two Questions at next week’s Tynwald over the waste charges.

JR finally confirmed the DoI is still looking at increasing the charges from 1st July 2024.

Section Section 25 From: Greenwood, Rita (DOI) To: Cc: Quayle, John (DOI); Robinson, Jeffrey Subject: RE: Fallen stock charges 1st July 2024 Date: 28 June 2024 11:15:44 Attachments: image004.png 28.06.2024 charges to date.xlsx V2_RGR10052024_AWPP_Price increases.pdf Q1442 Min App F Waste Management_ How much for the removal of fallen stock charge increase from 1st July 2024 and why.docx Q1434 Min App F Waste Management_.What consultation took place with farming industry ahead of increase in charges.docx image003.png Hello As mentioned in the phone I will have to ask John to obtain the historical date for costs etc, but please find below information previous sent o Jeff Robinson which highlights some of the costs and reasons for the price increase. INFO FROM JOHN TO JEFF – attached excel with income calculation of £117k Back ground The Department of Transport commissioned to design and build the AWPP which was commissioned in 2007 and is now operated by the Animal Waste Section of the Department of Infrastructure (DoI). The AWPP is the only animal rendering plant on the Island and currently processes approximately 2,300 tonnes of waste annually with roughly one third arising from the farming community via fallen stock collections and the other two thirds from the Isle of Man Meat Plant. Service provided The AWPP provides a full rendering service for all animal waste and is the only one on the Island. In addition to that a collection and occasional slaughter service to the farming community whilst carrying the collection cost i.e. skip movement etc for Isle of Man Meat plant. Due to Waste licence, logistical and proximity to the EFW plant fish is the only waste delivered by the waste producer. The AWPP also assists DEFA in brain sampling. Cost Due to operational reasons, breakdowns etc. the cost of operating the AWPP varies from year to year. However the average cost to operate the plant 2021/2 & 2022/23 was £615k. It must be note although the plant has a relatively simple process breakdowns are inevitable and the plant is getting older. In 2016 the average cost to run the facility on a cost per tonne basis was £250 per tonne. Based on 2021/22 & 2021/23 average costs, the cost per tonne has risen to between £275 and £280 per tonne. This calculation is based on overall cost divided by tonnes processed. Waste Management has made the Department aware of the shortfall between actual income and budget every year during the budget setting process. Fleet Cost It must also be noted that Fleet costs are not known and therefore not represented here. The AWPP has: · 2 x 14 tonne collection vehicles; · 1 x 5 tonne collection vehicle, · 1 x 32 tonne Hookloader · 1 x tele handler and; · 1 x f

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