In line with government policy that all civic amenity sites be accessible to all island residents, Douglas Borough Council has adopted the practice already in operation at the northern, western and southern civic amenity sites, which is to charge for the disposal of fridges and freezers.
Accordingly the Council has introduced charges at its eastern district civic amenity site at Middle River.
The charges are being levied with effect from September 1st 2012. Previously it was the Council’s practice to permit free disposal (on production of proof of residency) to households in Douglas, Onchan Braddan, Laxey, Lonan and Santon, the disposal fees being included in the rates for those areas.
Under the new system residents from any part of the Island may bring fridges and freezers for disposal to the Council-operated site on payment of a charge of ?14.34 for a standard size fridge and ?19.14 for a larger unit.
An on-site debit card payment facility will be introduced in the near future. As an interim measure fridges and freezers may be disposed of provided the customer furnishes proof of name and address. Proof of address must be in the form of a rate demand or utility bill dated within the last three months. Customers will then be required to sign a document to confirm their agreement to pay the charge on receipt of the Council’s invoice.
In addition customers can pre-pay for disposal at Douglas town hall any time Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm. A card will be issued on receipt of payment which must be produced at the site before the fridge or freezer can be accepted for disposal.
Cash and cheques will not be accepted at the site.
Eastern district civic amenity site champion and chairman of the joint eastern district civic amenity site committee Councillor Bill Malarkey said: ‘Introducing disposal fees is a more equitable charging mechanism in that the costs will be borne solely by those using the service rather than this being a rateborne charge. Importantly, as an environmentally responsible local authority we believe every effort should be made to provide ease of access to civic amenity sites Island-wide as a measure to discourage the antisocial practice of fly-tipping.’
The eastern district civic amenity site is at Middle River industrial estate, Douglas. Open hours are Monday to Saturday 8am to 7pm., Sunday 8am to 4pm (April 1st to September 30th) and 8am to 4pm daily (weather conditions permitting) October 1st to March 31st.
