Seven additional positive test results announced today. Brings total up to 12,349
Case numbers in City rise from 35 to 38.
Rate /100k population figure rises to 18.04
As we head towards tomorrow’s further easing of restrictions, it is perhaps worth remembering that, at the equivalent relaxation point in wave 1, case numbers in York were lower.
3/6/2020 – seven day rolling case numbers 3.29 (and falling)
16/5/2021 – seven day rolling case numbers 5.14 (and stable)
Case numbers falling again now in North Yorkshire
Neighbourhoods
Seven neighbourhoods are now recording three or more cases in each
Vaccinations
Tests
4271 PCR tests were conducted during the week ending 11th May 2021.
Of these, 0.7% were positive. That is the same proportion as the previous day.
In addition 884 “lateral flow” tests were also conducted on 15th May 2021
The latest figures from the government reveal that York increased its recycling rate in the latest period for which statistics are available (2019/20)
Map of ‘household waste’ recycling rates for individual local authorities, England, 2019/20. click graphic for full report
The figures are revealed as the Council agonises over plans to introduce 3 weekly recycling collections. The proposal attracted a large number of comments (22,000) when residents views were sought.
The Council perhaps needs to look a little further at waste volumes in the City and how they can be controlled.
Source open data
As the graph indicates, total waste produced – despite an increasing population – has remained fairly static over the last decade. The volume going to the Allerton Waste Recovery Centre (and, before 2018, landfill) has also been fairly steady.
The role of the commercial and voluntary sectors in mopping up unwanted articles cannot be under-estimated. Clothing banks are widespread and these are supplemented by doorstep collections.
Surplus food giveaways are gaining in popularity while “Freecycle” style schemes are encouraging more reuse of many household items.
It’s 10 years since the Council abandoned its plans for a salvage and reuse site. Perhaps its time to revive that project?
In the meantime, some attention to the effects of lockdown in the City is needed.
Nationally lockdown 1 saw both the volume and composition of household waste shift to levels seen during a “traditional Christmas period”, with some local authorities seeing a 30% increase in dry recycling volume. With many people working from home and businesses reducing their output, especially in the hospitality sector, more plastic and glass in particular has been sent for recycling from households.
Not surprisingly there was a reduction in commercial waste volumes.
What the long term effects of more people working from home will be needs to be factored into the York Councils forward planning.
