Interventions by Environmental Protection Unit for waste disposal

Summary

The request sought confirmation of Environmental Protection Unit interventions regarding high-volume waste disposal risks and associated costs over the last 12-18 months. The Department confirmed two interventions involving commercial companies, violations of the Public Health Act 1990, and that while no direct taxpayer costs were incurred for waste removal, officer time was utilized.

Key Facts

• The Environmental Protection Unit intervened on two occasions with commercial companies posing environmental risks due to high-volume waste gathering.
• Part IV of The Public Health Act 1990 regarding Refuse Disposal was violated by the businesses involved.
• A Supervision of Licensed Activities Notice was served on one company requiring waste removal within six months, which remains non-compliant.
• A second site was found to be in non-compliance due to waste overflowing into unauthorized areas, with an agreed action plan for removal within three to twelve months.
• There were no direct costs to the taxpayer for the removal or disposal of waste, though officer time was spent managing the incidents.

Data Disclosed

• 2 occasions
• 12-18 months
• 6 months
• 3 to 12 months
• 04 March 2026
• 5 February 2026
• section 63(5)
• section 57
• 5284549

Original Request

Can the department confirm whether in the last 12-18 months the Environmental Protection Unit have had to intervene with any commercial companies or individuals who have been posing a risk to the environment due to recycling/ waste gathering in high volume. Was the following legislation violated by actions of any individual(s)/businesses? - The Collection & Disposal of Waste Regulations 2000 - Part IV of The Public Health Act 1990 - Refuse Disposal Can the following questions be answered by the department: A) What action did the department take against any individual(s)/company(s)? B) Has the waste been removed/disposed from the site(s)? C) Did this come at any cost to the taxpayer?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Co-ordinator Corporate Services Directorate Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John’s, Isle of Man, IM4 3AS Tel no (01624) 685854 Fax no (01624 685851 Email: defa@gov.im www.gov.im

Our ref: 5284549 04 March 2026

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 5 February 2026, which states:

Can the department confirm whether in the last 12-18 months the Environmental Protection Unit have had to intervene with any commercial companies or individuals who have been posing a risk to the environment due to recycling/waste gathering in high volume.

Was the following legislation violated by actions of any individual(s)/businesses?
- The Collection & Disposal of Waste Regulations 2000 - Part IV of The Public Health Act 1990 - Refuse Disposal

Can the following questions be answered by the department: a) What action did the department take against any individual(s)/company(s)? b) Has the waste been removed/disposed from the site(s)? c) Did this come at any cost to the taxpayer?

Our response to your request is as follows.

Can the department confirm whether in the last 12-18 months the Environmental Protection Unit have had to intervene with any commercial companies or individuals who have been posing a risk to the environment due to recycling/ waste gathering in high volume.

Yes, the Department can confirm that on two occasions in the last 12-18 months the Environmental Protection Unit have had to intervene with commercial companies who have been posing a risk to the environment due to recycling/waste gathering in high volume.

Was the following legislation violated by actions of any individual(s)/businesses?
- The Collection & Disposal of Waste Regulations 2000 - Part IV of The Public Health Act 1990 - Refuse Disposal

Yes, Part IV of The Public Health Act 1990 – Refuse Disposal legislation was violated.

Can the following questions be answered by the department: a) What action did the department take against any individual(s)/company(s)? b) Has the waste been removed/disposed from the site(s)?

The Department has served a Supervision of Licensed Activities Notice under section 63(5) of the Public Health Act 1990 on one company, requiring the removal of all controlled waste from their site within six months.

As a substantial volume of waste remains on the site and the company has not complied with the requirements of the notice, the Department is now conducting an enforcement investigation into potential non-compliance with section 57 of the Public Health Act 1990 for the deposit of controlled waste without a Waste Disposal Licence.

A second site was identified as being in non-compliance with its Waste Disposal Licence due to waste overflowing into areas not authorised for waste storage. An action plan has been agreed with the operator requiring the removal of identified cardboard, plastic, electronic and electrical equipment, and refrigeration unit wastes within a period of three to twelve months.

To offer advice and assistance, in responding to this part of your enquiry, I have proceeded on the basis that the timeframe you intend is the same 12–18-month period referenced in the first part of your request. If this understanding is incorrect, please let me know and I will be happy to revisit that section of the response.

c) Did this come at any cost to the taxpayer?

There were no cost to the Department for the removal or disposal of waste from these sites. However, there would have been costs associated with officer time in attending and managing the incidents, as this forms part of the Department’s normal regulatory functions.

Please quote the reference number 5284549 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.

Yours sincerely