The environmental protection unit is investigating complaints over activities at a waste storage and recycling facility.

Complaints from neighbours of the Middle Park transfer station centre at Middle Farm in Braddan focus on noise, excessive hours of operations, vermin and burning waste.

John Bateson and his wife Stephanie say unsightly piles of rubbish have been building up and are not screened from view.

The couple are also concerned about the types of rubbish being handled at the site which is operated by Island Drainage and Groundwork Ltd. An officer from the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture’s environmental protection unit met the couple last month to discuss their concerns.

Island Drainage has agreed an action plan to address the issues.

Mr Bateson said from his home which overlooks the site as well as the nearby Energy from Waste plant: ’We moved in 17 years ago and never had cause for concern from the Energy from Waste plant or any of the other operations on the site until approximately two years ago when the part of the site operated by Island Drainage became unsightly and noisy.

’We approached Island Drainage directly but they have failed to address our concerns and the issues have become worse over the last couple of years.’

The couple say the area by the recycling shed is cluttered with waste which has not been removed as promised.

There is a mountain of scrap metal, piles of uPVC window frames and old electrical waste.

They say they have experienced unacceptable noise levels from the site, with vehicles, banging and alarm systems heard at night and early morning.

Operational hours are excessive, they claim, with machinery heard at 6am and continuing throughout the day at weekends.

They say they’ve observed trucks not entering the site via the weighbridge.

The Batesons have filmed fires left to burn on the site which they believe is not only green waste being combusted.

And they say nearby properties have reported an increasing problem with vermin.

Mr Bateson said he was concerned about the potential discharge of pollutants into the stream at the old fairy bridge.

He said: ’The island is very proactive in stating to the world of its unique Unesco Biosphere status and therefore it is imperative these matters are dealt with urgently.’

Island Drainage admits steps are needed to tidy up the site but denies that any material is burned or buried.

The company was given planning consent (14/00846/B) in 2015 to expand its operations to include the recycling of domestic and commercial waste as well as construction and demolition waste.

A planning officer’s report noted that the site has previously been used for tipping despite there being no record of landfill and it is understood parts have been filled to a depth of up to four metres.

It said the applicant is approved to handle and store - but not process - asbestos at the site.

DEFA confirmed its environmental protection unit is currently investigating complaints about the site.

In a statement, it said Island Drainage and Groundwork was issued with a waste disposal licence for its processing, storage and transfer station in 2013.

It is one of 41 sites in the island to be issued with such a licence.

A spokesman for DEFA said: ’Each licence has conditions that require the site to be designed and operated to protect against pollution and danger to public health.

’It would be inappropriate for the EPU to comment on individual complaints for reasons of protecting the confidence of any complainant and to ensure any ongoing investigations remain confidential for legal reasons.

’Any complaints about a licensed site will be investigated in accordance with the department’s enforcement policy.’

Paul Corteen of Island Drainage sand Groundwork said: ’Partly as a consequence of global re-cycling markets and the effects of Covid it is fair to say that material has accumulated in areas on the site beyond that, that we would have liked.

’We have met with DEFA representatives and agreed outline timelines and strategies to improve the situation and reduce material on site and to remove and reduce stockpiles where possible.’

He said Covid has resulted in some facilities closing or operating at a reduced capacity; similarly logistical issues have resulted in increased accumulation.

Mr Corteen said the following actions are to be progressed within the next two months.

* The company will ensure all waste being received at the site is weighed and details recorded

* The stockpile of light scrap metal to be reduced in size, volume and height

* The rear of the shed to be completely removed of waste, cleaned up and maintained to that standard;

* Waste electrical items are to be stored, removed and appropriately disposed of

* Food waste from Robinson’s is to cease and transferred to Energy from Waste plant;

* The uPVC stockpile to be moved to an alternative area within the site and the area cleaned up.

Mr Corteen insisted that operational hours for the facility are typically in line with approvals.

He said the facility had opened earlier during one weekend last month as a charter vessel was in to receive scrap metal.

He stressed that that the site does not receive any domestic bin waste and there is absolutely no burying of material on the site.

Mr Corteen said the rows of green waste wind rows can smoulder from time to time.

’There have been two incidents in the past three years when ignition has taken place; measures are in place to monitor and check temperatures and should a "flare up" occur there are dowsing measures in place,’ he said.

He added: ’We are licensed to handle and process numerous types of material and work closely with DEFA in relation to compliance which is a constant and ongoing situation.’

Areas for re-cycling are under review and efforts are being made to reduce quantities on site, he said.

’We are also examining the possibility of additional processing sheds and are looking at making further planning applications to enable more processing to be undertaken indoors,’ he said.