York residents may soon be trading in their recycling boxes for wheelie bins, as City of York Council prepares to consult the public on a major overhaul of its recycling collection system. The proposed changes, which could see some households managing up to four bins, are aimed at increasing recycling rates and reducing costs, officials say.
Under the plan, most households would receive two new wheelie bins – one for paper and cardboard, and another for glass, tins, and plastics. These would be collected on an alternating, four-week cycle. Households that received new black bins last year, and those whose recycling is collected by the St Nicks nature reserve, will initially be excluded from the scheme. The existing black bin for general waste will continue to be collected fortnightly.
The move comes as the council seeks to improve the efficiency of its waste management and meet upcoming national requirements for kerbside collection of soft films and plastics by March 2027. Council officials believe the switch to wheelie bins will allow residents to recycle more of their waste, and address the issue of litter blowing from recycling boxes on windy days, which currently requires council cleanup crews.
“York residents are really good at recycling, but if we introduced wheelie bins for the properties that could take them, we could significantly increase the amount that people could recycle, which would mean less is put into the black bins,” said Councillor Jenny Kent, executive member for environment and climate emergency. She acknowledged that not all properties are suitable for wheelie bins, and that the council will work to find solutions for those cases.
The council as well highlighted the potential health benefits for waste collection crews. A total of 1,386 absence days were recorded last year due to musculoskeletal issues, and the council believes that switching to wheelie bins would reduce the physical strain on staff handling recycling boxes. “They’re handling those boxes day in, day out, and we do get a lot of injuries and stresses, and strains. So if we could make a majority switch to wheelie bins, that would also have a really good impact for the health and wellbeing of waste crews,” Cllr Kent stated.
The proposed changes are also linked to the council’s wider financial goals. Waste services are currently looking to save £520,000 over the next two years, and officials believe that a more efficient recycling system could contribute to these savings. Sales of recycled waste currently generate around £800,000 annually for the council, a figure that could increase with higher recycling rates.
The council’s executive will vote on whether to proceed with a public consultation on the proposals on March 3rd. If approved, the rollout of new bins is expected to take place over a 12-week period. New wheelie bins will be provided free of charge, and households will be allowed to preserve their existing recycling boxes for other uses. A final decision on the proposals, including the cost of the rollout and delivery dates, is expected later this year.
