Health and safety issues prompted the decision to turn away commercial waste from the Southern Recycling Centre.

As the Courier reported last week, commercial waste - except for green waste - is no longer accepted at the tip in Castletown Road, Port St Mary.

The ’difficult’ decision for the suspension - which at this stage is for three months - was taken because of concerns over health and safety.The clerk of the recycling centre’s board Hayley Fargher explained: ’The board appreciates the inconvenience caused by this. However, it considers the action necessary to ensure the safe use of the site for all users.

’Commercial green waste will continue to be accepted, however strictly no soil or garden rubble etc can be deposited.

’This does not affect domestic users of the site.’

The site has grown and its use changed over the years since it was first developed, she said. This meant the board just needed to look at the layout to ensure it was safe and utilised to the best of its ability, she said..

It’s busier than it was and the high volume of traffic, which she said has led to some ’incidents’.

To address its concerns, the board has hired an external health and safety company to compile a full report on the site ’where the layout is one thing being looked at.

Ms Fargher said: ’I think it is worth noting that what the site was designed for years ago and is being used for now are completely different things and we just have to ensure that the site is safe to use for staff and the public.’

The Southern Recycling Centre was it the only local authority run site to accept commercial waste.

Commercial users’ charges per tonne - at £41.25 for green waste, rubble and inert material, £82.50 for wood and £206.25 for plasterboard - include transport to the various sites and tipping charges;

She added: ’Commercial users pay for use of the site. This does not affect domestic users who pay their rates.’