Agenda item

Following Executives approval in March 2026 to undertake public engagement with residents on a recycling review, this report outlines the results and feedback from the consultation that was live between 23rd March to 1st May 2026.

Cllr Perrett left the meeting due to her conflict of interest as noted in minute 2 (19:02)

Officers introduced the report which outlined the proposal to move from boxes to bins for recycling with an intention to take the decision to Executive on 7^th July 2026. They also welcomed consideration on the size of bins and noted that there would be challenges to consider particularly for the city centre. It was confirmed that paper and cardboard would still need to be kept separate from other recycling and that bins would be black with different coloured tops for identification.

The Committee considered the benefit of larger and of smaller bins, it was noted that officers would suggest starting with larger bins with the ability for residents to request a different size. Members considered that for terrace streets it might be easier with two 180L bins rather than the larger 240L ones. While some households would find a smaller bin easier, Members also considered the prospect of larger families potentially finding a 240L bin being too small for once-a-month collections. Officers confirmed that larger bins could be available on request, however, noted that larger than 240L would be quite substantial and acknowledged the Council’s policy to promote reduce, reuse, and recycle in that order. Members asked about the challenge of moving a bin for some residents and asked if the assistance required for this had been considered. Officers confirmed that they would contact all those households that currently received assistance on collections and would offer the same support for recycling bin collections.

The Committee considered the response to the consultation and noted that while the proposed move was supported on streets with more space, terrace streets had concerns. Officers noted that about 20,000 houses would be considered smaller/terrace houses but did not believe all of these would be against a move to bins especially with the introduction of film plastics for recycling next year. Officers confirmed that St Nicks would have capacity to support the move to bins and were working up appraisals on the number they can cover, but officers did not expect this to be thousands.

Members also enquired as to whether work was being done to ensure new developments would provide sufficient room for bins over boxes and officers confirmed that they were working with planning to ensure developments were being approved with sufficient room for bins. The Committee also noted a rise in the number of HMOs and asked whether these would create issues in the city for waste that would need to be collected. Officers confirmed that collection at HMOs would be something the Council would need to do as St Nicks in the city would have issues with these collections. Members acknowledged the challenge posed by HMOs and collections more generally on terrace streets and whether more bins lessen the street scene for some areas. The Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency recognised the difficultly for York and its different types of housing and agreed that they would continue to work on the potential impact to terrace streets.

Resolved:

                      i.         The Committee recommended that the Council explore further the challenges relating to terrace streets, support for those that might struggle with large bins, and households that might need larger bins.

                    ii.         Noted the incoming legislation changes to ensure York and the Council meets Simpler Recycling reforms by making kerbside recycling easier and safer for residents and Council employees in the most efficient way possible.

Reason:     To feed into the Executive decision.