Childminders in Douglas 'shocked' over 'commercial' waste disposal letter from Council

One asks if Council will be 'employing somebody to go through bins to count the nappies'

Childminders who operate from their homes in Douglas say they are shocked after receiving letters from Douglas City Council informing them that all waste generated by their business is commercial and must be paid for separately.

The letters say waste generated can't be included in household waste collections and is not covered by domestic rates.

Several childminders have taken to social media to berate the Council move, asking how they can be expected to differentiate between rubbish generated by members of their own family and that which comes from a child in their care.

The Council asks for registered childminders in receipt of the letter to contact it to arrange for collection and appropriate disposal of their waste.

This, claims the council, is because providing childminder services from home means they are operating a business from a domestic property.

Childminders who've taken to Facebook have branded the Council's move as 'utterly ridiculous' and 'mindless bureaucracy'. 

One asked if the Council would be 'employing somebody to go through bins to count the nappies'.

Manx Radio has asked the Council for comment.