North Yorkshire residents have just two weeks left to share their views about household rubbish and recycling collections as part of a survey that will shape future changes to the service.
North Yorkshire Council’s Let’s Talk Rubbish public consultation runs until midnight on Monday 16 September and is aimed at better understanding residents’ household waste habits. Across the county, about 310,000 tonnes of household waste is collected each year from more than 300,000 properties. About 45 per cent of this is reused, recycled, or composted.
Last year, the formation of North Yorkshire Council brought together seven different methods of collecting household waste and recycling, which was previously the responsibility of the county’s former district and borough councils. By reviewing the existing service, the council is striving to be more efficient and cost-effective by encouraging residents to reduce household waste and increase recycling, as well as ensuring that everyone receives the same collection service, regardless of where they live. Through Let’s Talk Rubbish, the council is consulting on a proposal to provide households with two wheeled bins for recycling – one for glass, cans and plastic, and one for paper and card - that would be emptied fortnightly on alternate weeks.
A key aim is to reduce contamination and collect better quality material at the kerbside by enabling residents to separate recyclable materials more effectively. When paper or card is mixed with plastic or glass, or exposed to the elements, it can become wet, reducing its resale value.By keeping these items separate, they are worth more to recycling manufacturers. Two wheeled bins would also provide residents with maximum capacity to recycle as much material as they can, and minimise the risk of any recyclables being scattered on the street on collection day, either by the wind or wildlife. Collections of non-recyclable rubbish will remain the same as they are now, and residents can also opt-in for garden waste collections. This means that most households would have a total of either three or four wheeled bins. As with current collections, alternative methods would still be used for properties where storage or access is limited.
North Yorkshire Council’s Executive Member for Managing Our Environment, Councillor Greg White, said: “The Let’s Talk Rubbish survey has already gathered more than 6,000 responses, and we want to remind those who haven’t already done so to get involved before it’s too late. “We know this is an important subject so, through this public engagement, we want to know how you feel about your existing collection service and what we can all do to help achieve our goals. “The changes would mean residents have the capacity to recycle more, and it would also provide the best value for money, as high-quality, clean recyclable material is worth more to manufacturers. “By reducing waste and increasing our recycling, we can also help to conserve our natural resources, protect the environment, save energy, and support our ambitions of becoming carbon negative.” All local authorities must meet the requirements of the Environment Act 2021 and move towards improved recycling collections, where possible. The Government expects all councils to recycle 65 per cent of their waste by 2035. To take part in the survey, visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/LetsTalk. Feedback can also be provided by picking up a paper copy of the survey from a local library or main local office and returning it in the envelope provided; contacting North Yorkshire Council by calling 0300 131 2 131 and, when prompted, saying ’Let’s Talk’; or emailing LetsTalk@northyorks.gov.uk. Accessible formats of the survey are available on request. (05-09-402 SU)