RUBBISH from the Isle of Wight could be shipped to the mainland in the future rather than buried in local landfill sites.
The Isle of Wight Council is investigating the future of waste disposal, recycling and landfill as it nears the end of an existing deal with Island Waste in 2015.
In a report due to be discussed by the cabinet on Tuesday, next week, the council revealed it was considering an off Island location for the treatment of residual waste, which is waste that cannot be recycled and would go to landfill.
Existing landfill capacity on the Island could run out within nine to 33 years according to the report
The report recommends spending almost £2 million on procurement of a new waste contract. It is expected that the first stage of procurement will begin later this year, after public consultation.
According to the report a number of assets involved in waste disposal will be handed back to the council by Island Waste in 2015, including the civic amenity sites.
The report concluded that it was not feasible to extend the current arrangements.
A new off-Island solution would be marginally cheaper than current arrangements and an estimated 15 per cent cheaper than keeping it on the Island, the report found.
If waste were to be kept on the Island it would need a capital investment of between £30m to £40m.
However the report said both off and on-Island solutions should be considered during the procurement process.
It stated: "Procurement of a new waste collection and treatment service should take into account the investment needed to construct the necessary infrastructure on the Island, or alternatively to purchase services that are provided off the Island, or a mixture of the two."
The new contract is due to come into effect in October 2015.
Reporter: ross.findon@iwcp.co.uk