York Council looking to extend charging for waste collection?

“Scrutiny” review could lead to new fees

It looks like Labour are considering introducing more charges for waste collection and disposal.

Residents criticised Labours decision to introduce charges for second (and subsequent) green bin collections this year.

Mixed messages from Labour

Mixed messages from Labour

This came hard on the heels of some new charges at civic amenity sites (and the closure of the Beckfield Lane facility)

It now seem that the Council is set on considering other charges which may include:

  • Commercial waste collection including service provided to schools and charitable organisations
  • Trade waste disposal at household waste recycling centres including service provided to charitable organisations & landlords/letting agents
  • Clinical waste collection
  • Provision of waste containers
  • Hazardous wastes including chemicals

In other parts of the country Labour have been campaigning against green waste charges ironically using a “one nation” slogan (above left)

A background paper can be read by clicking here

Although not specifically mentioned in the York Council officials report, it is known that – in some countries – charges are levied on the basis of the weight of (landfill) material collected from each dwelling.

It will take the review committee several months to report so it is unlikely that any additional charges could be introduced before next Mays Council elections.

Recycling decline in York – more details published

The Council has now published a table showing the amount of waste recycled/composted each quarter for the last 5 years.

The table (click here) reveals that the lowest level of composting and recycling recorded occurred during the period Oct – Mar 2014.

This coincided with the period when the Labour led council stopped green waste collections

Lib Dems call for action as recycling rates fall in York

Liberal Democrats have renewed their calls for action to increase recycling in York as figures confirm recycling levels fell last year and the Labour run York Council missed its green targets.

Former Coucnil Leader Andrew Waller joins Richard Hill in opposing the closure of the backfield Lane recycling centre in 2012

Former Coucnil Leader Andrew Waller joins Richard Hill in opposing the closure of the backfield Lane recycling centre in 2012

It’s target was to increase recycling to 48%.

Meanwhile, the amount of waste sent to landfill increased from 53% to 56% over the same period.

The council’s target had been to reduce this to 52%.

Last year it was confirmed that landfill tax in York was set to cost the council £4million a year.

The Labour  Council courted unpopularity by ending winter green bin emptying 8 months ago, while also deciding to only provide a free collection service for one bin.

The Council also closed the recycling centre in Beckfield Lane in 2012.

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Plastics recycling set to be expanded in York

Recycling plastics
Over 800 residents living in Upper Poppleton are set to benefit from a new trial enabling them to recycle other types of plastic packaging for the first time.

From 20 June until 29 August residents in Upper Poppleton will be able to recycle plastics including yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and fruit trays along with the usual plastic bottles and tin cans.
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York green bin charges generating £40,000 a year

Landfill

The York Council has revealed that it is receiving an additional £40,000 a year from the new charges introduced for emptying supplementary green (garden waste) bins.

Each household has been entitled to have only one green bin emptied free of charge since the beginning of April 2014.

When the Labour Cabinet decided to introduce the charges in April 2013, they were told that there were at least 5000 additional green waste bins in use in the City.

They hoped that, by charging £35 per bin per year, they would generate over £122,000 a year in increased revenue.

In reality only 1166 households have decided to pay for the extra bins.

It is unclear that is now happening to the green waste that was previously collected.

While some will be “home composted”, more is likely to be going into grey bins.

This will potentially generate more than £50,000 in landfill tax “penalties” making the charging scheme look unattractive to Council Taxpayers who will have to pick up the extra bill.

Glass recycling collection interupted in parts of York

Extra green bin collection urged by LibDems

Liberal Democrats have called for an extra green bin collection to take place this month after residents criticised York Council.

Green Bin

Labour run City of York Council’s controversial changes to garden waste collection mean that the last green bin collection before April 2014 has already been completed. However, leaves are still falling from trees across York and a mild autumn has seen late grass growth and some evergreens continue to need trimming.

Lib Dems have been swamped by complaints from residents who say leaves and garden waste are piling-up. Meanwhile, council officers have admitted that the garden waste which have been collected last winter will end-up in landfill this winter – causing a further rise in landfill tax for the council.

Latest figures reveal that York is currently failing to meet any of its key recycling targets and the amount of waste being sent to landfill is increasing. This increase will see the cost of ‘landfill tax’ rocket to £3,918,960 – a £581,360 or 17% rise on 2012/13.

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Fourth week of bins emptying chaos in York – Council get wards wrong

The Council web site made a mistake on Tuesday in identifying the locations of bins that hadn’t been emptied.

Grey bins in various pa8th October 2013rts of the Westfield and Acomb wards weren’t collected. However the Council said these were in “Copmanthorpe”.

Really is time that they sorted this out.

Tuesday 8th October the following areas did not have their waste collected as scheduled:

“Companthorpe” Grey bin (sic)

◦Askham Lane (Gale Lane – Ridgeway)

◦Vesper Drive

◦Ridgeway

◦Rylatt Place

◦Wetherby Road (Ridgeway to bypass)

◦Briar Avenue

◦Collingham Place
Woodthorpe (green bin)

◦Summerfield Road
◦Wordsworth Cresent
◦Ullswater Terrace
◦Arundel Grove
◦Overdale Close
◦Silverdale Court