Garden waste collection restarts at end of month

The new garden waste(green bin)  collection season starts from Monday March 30.

The Council says “residents are asked to ensure their bins are presented by 7am on the day of their collection, but no earlier than 7pm the evening before”.

Look up collections or download a 2015 rubbish and recycling calendar at www.york.gov.uk/refuselookup or call 01904 551551.

Ahead of the new collection season, households with more than one green wheeled bin can sign up to the additional green bin scheme which operates during the usual garden waste season.  

From 1 April the charge will increase to £37 per additional green bin that residents would like emptied.  To find out more about the additional bin subscription scheme visit www.york.gov.uk/recycling

To join the additional bin scheme and have more than one bin emptied call 01904 551551 or ‘apply for it’ via the secure website at https://www.york.gov.uk/DoItOnline

Labour are delaying the introduction of their planned £35 a year charge for emptying ALL green bins until after the Council elections on 7th May.

Residents can sign a petition opposing the additional charge (and reductions to bin emptying frequencies) on the Council web site (click here)

The Council says, “home composting is also a great way to manage garden waste at home and provide nutrient rich compost for gardens. Visit www.getcomposting.com for further information or to purchase a reduced price home compost bin to get started.

Residents can also recycle their additional garden waste at Hazel Court and Towthorpe Household Waste Recycling Centres free of charge in a car. Residents using larger vehicles or trailers will need to apply for permits to use the sites”.

Follow @CYCWaste on Twitter, or like CYCWaste on Facebook.

Green waste bin emptying

The Council is set to stick with its decision to end green bin emptying in October each year.

The service now starts again in April.

Green bin 2

A Council report claims that most residents either store up their green waste in winter or take it to one of York’s two civic amenity recycling centres.

The report does not say how much waste was collected in the additional collection arranged in January of this year.

The Council accepts though that some garden waste found its way into grey bins, adding to the Landfill Tax burden that must be funded by Council Taxpayers.

Street drinking and green waste collection petitions to be considered by Council

The Council has announced the dates on which two petitions from residents will be considered.

A petition asking for action to control street drinking in The Groves area is slated for consideration on  17th March

A petition opposing the reduction on winter green bin emptying frequencies will be considered on 18th March

Meanwhile opposition to Labour’s plans to reduce grey bin emptying frequencies to 3 or 4 weekly is growing.

Many residents have also emailed us to say that they believe that the £35 a year charge that Labour have agreed for emptying any green bin, will lead to more hedgerow dumping.

 

Residents face £35 a year Green Bin Tax

Liberal Democrats have criticised Green Councillors for backing proposals which will see residents charged £35 a year for all garden waste collections.

Cllr Ann Reid and local LibDem candidate Stephen Fenton with green waste

Cllr Ann Reid and local LibDem candidate Stephen Fenton with green waste

As previously reported, Green Party councillors last week supported the ruling Labour Group’s Budget along with former Conservative Cllr Joe Watt. The plans will see a charge introduced for all green bin collections alongside increased car parking rates and cuts to community centres, road repairs and street cleaning.

In 2013, Labour was forced to abandon plans to charge for all green bin collections after 1,700 residents signed a Lib Dem petition and concerns were raised that a blanket charge would see recycling rates tumble.

However, Labour did force through a cut to winter collections and introduced a £35 charge for residents with more than one green bin.

This new charge is the equivalent of a 4% increase in Council Tax for most residents 

The new plans, part of the council’s ‘Re-wiring’ project, will now see a charge for all garden waste collections in 2015/16 with officers recommending a flat £35 fee per bin.

Plans to reduce the frequency of grey bin collections will also be considered as part of the proposals.

Cllr Ann Reid, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environmental Services, commented:

“It is hugely disappointing that Green councillors supported Labour’s Budget. This decision means further cuts to frontline services, increased fees for car parking and a new charge for all green bin collections.

“Under Labour recycling rates have already fallen and Landfill Tax bills increased to £3.7 million. Making residents pay £35 to recycle their garden waste will do further damage.

“Liberal Democrats worked with residents to defeat these plans in 2013, but Green councillors have now paved the way for a new Green Bin Tax in York as well as the option to reduce grey bin collections.

“The Lib Dem budget proposal was the only one which scrapped these plans. It would also have returned winter green bin collections and increased investment to boost recycling rates.

“The Labour-Green union, which last year blocked a review into the Lendal Bridge trial, has now passed a budget which will see cuts to services and reckless borrowing continue on projects such as the £9million Guildhall Media Hub.

“While I am pleased that Castlegate has been given a short-term reprieve and there is some hope for Yearsley Pool, the Labour-Green budget includes damaging cuts to community centres, road repairs and street cleaning as well as this new Green Bin charge.”

Details of the Green Bin proposals are included in the council’s plans for ‘Place Based Services’ – click here to access a copy

Wind increases new year litter problems

A combination of high winds and insecure recycling have added to litter problems in many streets today.

SSR litter

Some residents put out recycling yesterday although there was no scheduled waste collection on New Years Day (it is taking place tomorrow – Saturday)

All in all the Council probably now needs to undertake a review of its publicity arrangements for waste collection over the festive period.

We doubt whether the message, that green bins will be emptied later in January, has got through to everyone.  They will be emptied, on the scheduled  recyclables day, during the weeks commencing 19th or 26th January 2015 . The information was not included with the waste collection calendar which was delivered to “every household” in November.

 

Publicity about waste collections failing?

It looks like the Councils leaflet explaining when waste will be collected has failed to reach many residents.

In some streets today the majority had put out recycling expecting it to be removed. (There is no waste collection this week).

Recycling put out for collection today

Recycling put out for collection today

Perhaps as a result of difficulties with waste collection, the amount of litter on the streets seems to be increasing. We’ve reported several instances and organised a local clear up near the Foresters Walk ravine

Litter and leaf detritus Thoresby Road snicket

Litter and leaf detritus Thoresby Road snicket

Litter Haddon Close snicket

Litter Haddon Close snicket

Litter Cornlands park

Litter Cornlands park

NB. 1,512 York households have paid for an additional garden waste collection bin compared to a budgeted estimate of 3,500.

No rubbish collections in York this week

We have had reports that some residents have not yet received their new rubbish collection calendars.

You can access a look up table which gives details of collection arrangements for your postcode by clicking here

There are no scheduled refuse collections this week. Many residents will take advantage of the recycling facilities dotted around the City. Some are already full to overflowing. We have asked for them to be emptied.

Skips are next due to visit west York on 3rd January 2015

Recycling bin at Tesco full on Sunday

Recycling bin at Tesco full on Sunday

 

Bin bag also dumped

Bin bag also dumped

Rubbish dumped on Sunday

Rubbish dumped on Sunday

Full litter bin on local footpath

Full litter bin on local footpath

Waste collection in York over Christmas and the New Year- reminder

grey waste bin

  • All households will get a rubbish collection this week (w/c 15 Dec) so all rubbish bins will be emptied in the run up to Christmas.  Recycling collections will continue as normal.
  • There will be NO rubbish or recycling collections during Christmas week (22 to 26 December)
  • All households will get a rubbish collection the week after Christmas (w/c 29 Dec) so all rubbish bins will be emptied.  Recycling collections will continue as normal. 
  • There will be NO rubbish or recycling collections on Thursday 1 January.  Collection of rubbish missed this day will happen on Saturday 3 January instead. Recycling will be collected on your next scheduled collection day after that
  • Residents who put out their own bins will need to make sure they’re out by 7am, as collection times can vary. If anyone needs to check their collection dates please use the online tool (click)  There is a calendar which can be printed from the ‘results’ page.
  • The Council have agreed to empty green bins on an additional occasion this winter .They will be emptied, on your recyclables day, during the weeks commencing 19th and 26th January 2015 . Christmas trees (real) will also be collected if they are cut up and put inside your green bin.
  • The Hazel Court recycling centre will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. Its current opening hours are Monday to Saturday 8.30am to 5.00pm Sundays 8.30am to 4.00pm
  • Local skip locations are detailed below  
Skip Programme Click to enlarge

Skip Programme Click to enlarge