The government has brought in recyclable and biodegradable containers to replace single use plastics in its offices - and is then sending them to be burned.

Ann Corlett (Douglas Central) voiced her exasperation at the situation when Tynwald discussed ’green office initiatives’ on Tuesday.

Mrs Corlett said: ’There are many positive green office initiatives across government but not all of them are positive.

’There is a drive across government to reduce single-use plastics and reduce disposables such as coffee cups and disposable food containers and to change those to recyclable and biodegradable products.’

This was done at ’considerable’ extra cost, she said.

’But we don’t actually recycle these, we send them out to the energy from waste plant and burn them.’

She added: ’Instead of burning the cheaper non-recyclables, we burn the more expensive recyclables. This is a waste in itself.’

Outcomes needed to be considered at the same time that a policy was being formulated, she said.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer, who had been asked to outline the green office initiatives, said he agreed ’completely’ with Mrs Corlett’s sentiments.

Earlier, in response to questions from Kate Beecroft (Douglas South), Mr Harmer said green initiatives in government buildings included paper recycling, plastic bottle reduction, aluminium can collection points, ink cartridge recycling and dry cell battery disposal, along with the reduction in energy use such as heating and electricity.

He said energy saving initiatives across the government property portfolio have included replacement of internal lighting in schools, air tightness programmes at school, heating and cooling pumps being replaced at Noble’s Hospital and LED lights used in street lighting.

’These green initiatives are linked to the programme of maintenance and refurbishment projects across the government estate,’ he said.