A plan to offer kerbside recycling to thousands of households in the west of the island could receive the backing of five local authorities next month, writes BBC local government reporter Ewan Gawne.

The site manager at the Western Civic Amenity Site, Mike Rose, is the man behind the proposal which, if approved, would see ratepayers in Peel, German, Patrick, Michael and Marown paying £12 per household each year for fortnightly collections.

Mr Rose says the only way to increase the number of people recycling in the west is to roll out a kerbside service, after use of the amenity site plateaued in recent months.

He estimates it would take 10 days to collect all the recyclable materials from homes in the five authorities, some of which include large areas of rural land.

A budget meeting is being held on September 18 by the Western Civic Amenity Site management board.

Members will discuss the financial details of the proposal and, if approved, it will be put before the five local authorities, which will make the ultimate decision on whether to support the collective scheme. If agreed, the kerbside collections would begin in April next year.

Local authorities are being encouraged by the Department of Infrastructure to work together on recycling schemes, a policy outlined under the government’s 2018 waste management strategy.

The biggest scheme involves Douglas and Braddan. Onchan dropped out of it in 2011.

Malew also has kerbside collections.

In Tynwald in May, Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer said an all-island kerbside recycling scheme may not be the best route forward.

He said the possibility of expanding kerbside collections would be considered by the government.