Residents in the former Richmondshire area are set to benefit from an improved recycling service as wheelie bins are set to be delivered as part of the countywide roll-out.
Under the new service, residents will have alternate fortnightly household recycling collections: one for paper and card and one for all other recyclable materials, including glass, cans, plastics and cartons.
This model of collection already takes place in the former Selby and Ryedale areas of the county and allows us to increase the amount and quality of recycling collected at the kerbside, reduce the cost of collection, generate a higher value when it is processed and help towards carbon reduction.
As well as the environmental benefits, we must also meet the requirements of the Environment Act 2021 to increase recycling, as well as collect paper and card separately.
A recent survey of residents in the former Ryedale area has shown 83 per cent of respondents are very happy or happy with the new recycling system, and 85 per cent find the new system very easy or easy to use. Fifty-one per cent of residents have also said that they are now recycling more, thanks to the new system and 81 per cent have said the new system will improve recycling in North Yorkshire.
Our executive member for waste services, Councillor Richard Foster, said: "We need to make sure our recycling service continues to offer value for money and remains fit for the future, while doing everything we can to boost recycling rates and support our carbon-reduction goals.
"So we are now rolling out the improved service to former Richmondshire residents and will be writing to them this week advising them to keep an eye out for their wheelie bins, which will be delivered in the coming weeks.
"We understand that any change to rubbish and recycling collections can take some getting used to, but feedback from residents who are already using the service has been overwhelmingly positive. These results should provide reassurance to residents that the changes are working well and delivering real environmental benefits."
The new collections will start in October and we will write to residents again in late September with further information about when they can start using their new bins. Further information is also available on our Right Thing Right Bin page.
For the rest of the county, the changes will be rolled out in phases.