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North Yorkshire Council is set to spend £500,000 on an extension to a blue recycling bin roll out in Harrogate.

The move comes the former Harrogate Borough Council launched a trial of the bins to 12,000 residents in May 2022.

The bin, which are the same size as refuse wheelie bins (240 litre deep), replaced multiple recycling boxes.

A trial was launched shortly after the Stray Ferret highlighted concerns by residents about the amount of recycling left out for collection being blown across streets. It prompted many people to call for the introduction of the more stable bins.

Now, North Yorkshire Council is expected to procure a further 18,000 of the blue bins to be distributed to residents up until April 2024.

A spokesperson for the authority said:

“This is part of our ongoing project to roll out wheeled bins to residents, where required.

“When the seven waste collection authorities came together as part of the new North Yorkshire Council from April 1, 2023, multiple live procurement processes with varying end dates were in place for the supply of waste and recycling containers.

“In 2022/23, the former Harrogate Borough Council conducted a trial of replacing the multiple 55ltr boxes that 12,000 residents had to a 240ltr blue lidded wheeled bin. This was a success with positive feedback from residents, reduced manual handling for collection crews, and a reduction of litter in the trailed areas following windy conditions.”

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The move comes after the borough council launched a trial in Knaresborough in May 2022.

Blue-lidded wheelie bin replaced the black box and will be used for glass bottles and jars, tin cans and foil, food and drink cartons, plastic bottles and tubs.

However, blue bags for recycling all paper, card and cardboard continued to be used. These were be replaced with heavy-duty bags for properties that don’t have them.

The authority is also set to procure 1,500 black general waste bins and 732 brown garden waste bins, which will both be used for replacement and new properties.

Commercial waste could be banned at council tips in North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire Council is considering whether to ban people depositing commercial waste at all of its household waste recycling centres.

It is one of a range of options being considered as part of cost-saving measures.

Other ideas include restricting the number of trips vans can make to the centres and banning people who don’t live in North Yorkshire from using them.

The options, which would affect sites at Penny Pot Lane and Wetherby Road in Harrogate, Dallamires Crescent in Ripon and mobile sites in Pateley Bridge and Boroughbridge, are due to go out to consultation.

Penny Pot Household Waste Recycling Centre

The Penny Pot Lane tip.

A council decision notice last week announced plans to consult on changes, which it said would “avoid the need to reduce the service but do impact certain site users”.

The Stray Ferret asked the council why it was proposing changes, what the options were and the likely cost associated with them.

In a statement, it replied:

“To help make savings and improve the service they provide, North Yorkshire Council is looking at various changes at household waste recycling centres.

“This includes limiting the use of HWRCs to North Yorkshire residents only, limiting the access for commercial-like vehicles as well as changes to commercial waste.

“Around 15 per cent of visits are not made by North Yorkshire residents. Limiting the use to the county’s residents could generate savings of about £140,000 every year and would align with neighbouring authorities.

“The council is also proposing to limit access for commercial-like vehicles (including those in a van or pick-up). Figures show 93 per cent of visitors in a commercial-like vehicle make less than 12 visits per year. Limiting these vehicles to 12 visits could bring savings of about £370,000 and could reduce congestion at the sites.

“Before implementing these changes, people will be asked to share their views on the proposals, as well as whether they support commercial waste continuing to be accepted at HWRCs.”

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According to the council’s website, commercial waste is currently accepted at all of its centres except Wetherby Road in Harrogate.

Environment minister Rebecca Pow announced in June that households would no longer have to pay to get rid of DIY waste at household waste recycling centres.

DIY waste is now treated the same as household waste, saving tip visitors up to £10 per sack of rubble or sheet of plasterboard. 

North Yorkshire Council said this would cost £889,000 and force it to look for new ways of saving money. 

Last month, the Local Government Association, which is a membership body for councils, warned the change could mean tip closures and reduced hours in some council areas.