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22
Jan
1 in 10 homes could opt out of new four wheelie bin system
About one in 10 homes could opt out of plans to introduce up to four wheelie bins per household in North Yorkshire.
The Stray Ferret revealed in December that North Yorkshire Council plans to introduce the new system.
We subsequently reported last week it will cost just over £9.5 million to implement the changes and could take 14.5 years to recoup costs.
Under the system, each household will have two recycling bins that will each be collected monthly as well as a household waste bin and a fourth garden waste bin if they choose to pay for this additional service.
The articles prompted concern from some households about where the bins will go.
Councillor Greg White, the council’s executive member for managing our environment, told a meeting of the Conservative-run council’s executive yesterday (January 21) there will be “bespoke solutions” for homes that couldn’t cope with so many bins.
Cllr White said:
We think there will be about 10% of houses that fall into needing some sort of alternative arrangement.
Yesterday's executive meeting.
A report by a council officer, written for councillors on the executive ahead of the meeting, said:
A range of bespoke collection methods including smaller bins, bags, frequent collections of smaller containers and community recycling points will be considered with residents. It is clear that ‘one-size-fits-all’ is not appropriate. The proposed harmonised approach incorporates flexibility to deliver a service aligned to property types and access arrangements, tailored to resident’s needs.
You can read the report here.
Blue bags and black boxes
The system is based on the approach already used in the Selby district.
Executive member Cllr Mark Crane, whose Brayton and Barlow division is in the Selby area, told the meeting the system “worked really well” and residents particularly welcomed rubbish “not being blown across the streets”, as happens with the current blue bags and black boxes used in the Harrogate district.
Black boxes and blue bags will become obsolete.
The bags and boxes will become obsolete when the new system is rolled out over a five-year timeframe.
'Substantial reserves'
Fellow executive member Cllr Simon Myers said he was aware there had been “some public disquiet” surrounding the proposals but added:
Legislation that would prevent the co-mingling of waste is very likely to come fairly soon. So as Greg as said we are jumping before we are pushed. We don’t need to wait for government to tell us to do the right thing.
He added the council had “substantial reserves” to fund the changes and there was a “sound business case” behind the move.
Cllr Bryn Griffiths, the Liberal Democrat leader on the council, told the executive:
The only concern I have about this is it’s a 14.5 year payback. That’s a long way away and a lot can happen in the meantime. I would be looking for something quicker and faster as a payback if I was putting my money into the scheme.
You can watch the executive meeting here.
Use the comments below to tell us what you think of the new system and whether you will opt out of having the maximum number of bins.
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