Agenda item

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.