• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

News and entertainment worth sharing – York and North Yorkshire

  • News
  • Things to do
  • Radio
  • Community
  • More
    • Food & drink
    • Business
  • About
    • Comments
    • Advertise
    • Contact us
  • Radio
  • WIN
  • Vouchers
  • Listen live »
York Races 2023 season

York’s recycling system ‘is garbage and should be binned’

Wed 12 Dec 2018 @ 7:59am - Environment, News, Politics
Chloe Laversuch - Local Democracy Reporter

York recycling boxes. Photograph: YorkMix

Recycling and bin collections in York need to be completely overhauled, according to one councillor who said the service is “garbage”.

At a City of York Council meeting on Monday (December 10), Cllr Mark Warters reiterated his comments to YorkMix last month about the state of waste removal in the city.

Cycle Heaven
Cycle Heaven #Ad

The Independent member for Osbaldwick and Derwent called the council’s recycling rates are “pathetic” and residents should be able to put all their reusable waste into one blue bin instead of having to sort it into different boxes.

He said the council should be more like its neighbour East Riding of Yorkshire Council – which was named as the local authority which recycled the most waste in 2016 to 2017.

City of York Council was in 191st place.

A complete overhaul

Speaking at a council meeting on Monday, Cllr Warters said: “We need to completely overhaul the council’s waste collection methods – they are garbage.

“Expecting residents to sort recycling into silly boxes is logistical lunacy.

“Our recycling rates are pathetic. The current system should be binned. Do you not want to increase recycling rates in York?”

Cllr Mark Warters wants a single wheelie bin to replace the three boxes

Cllr Warters was criticised for calling climate change a “hysterical left-wing religion” at a meeting in October.

But he said he is keen for the council to tackle environmental issues closer to home.

He added: “It’s all well engaging in virtue signalling over fracking. We need an easy to use, efficient waste collection system.”

Related YorkMix stories
  • Call to end York recycling ‘farce’ – and replace collection boxes with single wheelie bin
  • Radical vision would bring trams back to York – for the good of our health
  • Video and pix: Campaigners block York roads to demand action on climate change

Million-pound pricetag

But it would cost the council an extra £1 million if residents put all their recycling in the same bin, according to a council officer.

He said: “If we co-mingled the cost would be about £1 million more expensive. There would be additional costs for processing.

“The amount you pay to dispose of that product is significantly higher and the amount you get back is less.”

He added that some items are sent abroad for recycling and are at the “whim of international markets”.


Cllr Andrew Waller, executive member for the environment, said the council should also feel some ethical responsibility for what happens to its recycled waste.

He said: “We do bear a responsibility for what happens – where does it end up? If it is sent to the Far East then where do they send it on to?”

The council spends £47.07 per household each year on waste collection compared to the national average spend of £64.43.

Cllr Waller said the authority needs to look at expanding the range of plastics it accepts for recycling but said black plastic food trays should be banned because they cannot be recycled.

 

Wed 12 Dec, 2018

2 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Johnrich of Dunnington
4 years ago

High volume, low density plastics food containers( eg .Polyester & Polypropylene food trays etc) are just not collected by the City Council .These low density high volume materials are easily separated & recycled, but NOT by York Council ! The CYC central collection area is disorganized chaos, so one has to drive round to Sainsburys who do have an intelligent collection system.
Elderly single people living in Outer York with transport difficulties are ignored as usual!

0
Amadeo
4 years ago

Why are people so lazy? It takes no time to separate. The reason why we can no longer export recyclables to China is because of this “mixed recycling”. Go anywhere else in Europe and recyclables are separated before they are collected. It’s not difficult.

0

Footer

YorkMix
News 01904 848 766
Email YorkMix news »
5-6 King's Court, Shambles, York  YO1 7LD
YorkMix Radio
General enquiries 01904 375 029
Studio/competitions 01904 375 030
Email YorkMix Radio »
Selby Superbowl, Bawtry Road, Selby  YO8 8NA
YorkMix is a trading name of YorkMix Media Ltd
Registered in England
Company number: 07814727
VAT number: 154 0364 34
© York Sound Ltd

Copyright © 2023 YorkMix Media Ltd

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
wpDiscuz