Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Director of Environmental and Regulatory Services presenting a review of the domestic recycling service, including how materials are presented at the kerbside following public engagement and scrutiny. The report also explores the benefits and costs of moving from recycling boxes to recycling wheeled bins for the majority of domestic properties in York.

Resolved: That the Executive:

i.             Recommended Council to approve of the increase in general fund borrowing required to fund capital investment of up to £2.8m in recycling bins.

Reason: To ensure that the capital programme is fully funded and can be effectively monitored.

ii.            Approved moving from recycling boxes to 180l recycling bins as standard based on the financial business case supporting the project. The scope of properties in the first phase is up to 63,000. For those properties producing additional recycling materials, larger contain could be requested.

Reason: To improve efficiency of collections, increase recycling capacity, reduce operating costs, decrease musculoskeletal injuries and reduce street litter as well as providing an adequate kerbside collection service to meet simpler recycling reforms.

iii.          Delegated authority to officers to find solutions, in partnership with third parties, for some properties in the first, and future phases that may have storage challenges for wheeled bins. This could mean a small proportion of properties within the first scope of change remain on box collections.

Reason: To ensure residents have appropriate storage space within property boundaries and can benefit from outside space within their property boundary, allowing officers more time to find appropriate solutions for these properties to transition onto wheeled bins for recycling.

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iv.          Approved Waste Services to consider requests for larger 240l containers following standard roll out to support increased recycling and waste minimisation. Special requests for 140l wheeled bins would be based on exceptional circumstances and the resident’s ability to reasonably justify the request.

Reason: To ensure residents have appropriate capacity to increase recycling materials. To allow appropriate storage space within property boundaries and can benefit from outside space within their property boundary.

The Director of Environmental and Regulatory Services, Head of Environmental Services, and Environmental Services Officer, presented a report which outlined proposals to further improve overall recycling waste collection rates and separation by supporting residents to recycle as much as possible from home, including a move from boxes to fixed lid wheelie bins.

The following annexes were attached to the report:

·      Annex A – Participation by ward

·      Annex B – Types of households by ward

·      Annex C – Survey responses

·      Annex D – Email communication analysis

·      Annex E – Drop-in sessions summary

·      Annex F – Human Rights Equalities Impact Assessment (HREIA)

·      Annex G – Terraced Properties Assessment

·      Annex H – August 2026 consultation feedback.

In response to a query, the Head of Environmental Services reported that the Waste Optimisation Project was a separate piece of work to the Recycling Review. It was noted that the Review provided Executive with an opportunity to improve residents’ recycling experience. That work was ongoing to strike a balance between waste capacity and residents’ preferences.

The Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency highlighted that it was not possible to provide a bespoke service for all residents, and that Executive had listened to feedback arising from the consultation exercise. It was acknowledged that there had been a delay in the £260k savings that had been sought and that this was to be achieved as part of the waste optimisation project. Operating collections on the most efficient routes at the most efficient speeds was a priority and wheeled bins resulted in increased efficiency over boxes.

Resolved:

That Executive:

i)              Recommended Council to approve of the increase in general fund borrowing required to fund capital investment of up to £2.8m in recycling bins.

Reason: To ensure that the capital programme is fully funded and can be effectively monitored.

ii)             Approved moving from recycling boxes to 180l recycling bins as standard based on the financial business case supporting the project. The scope of properties in the first phase is up to 63,000. For those properties producing additional recycling materials, larger contain could be requested.

Reason: To improve efficiency of collections, increase recycling capacity, reduce operating costs, decrease musculoskeletal injuries and reduce street litter as well as providing an adequate kerbside collection service to meet simpler recycling reforms.

iii)           Delegated authority to officers to find solutions, in partnership with third parties, for some properties in the first, and future phases that may have storage challenges for wheeled bins. This could mean a small proportion of properties within the first scope of change remain on box collections.

Reason: To ensure residents have appropriate storage space within property boundaries and can benefit from outside space within their property boundary, allowing officers more time to find appropriate solutions for these properties to transition onto wheeled bins for recycling.

iv)           Approved Waste Services to consider requests for larger 240l containers following standard roll out to support increased recycling and waste minimisation. Special requests for 140l wheeled bins would be based on exceptional circumstances and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30