Following local government reorganisation, from 1 April 2023, the new North Yorkshire Council replaces the 8 councils currently providing district and county level services. The North Yorkshire Council will inherit different approaches to garden waste collection services with the most notable difference being garden waste collections are run on an opt-in subscription service in all areas across North Yorkshire except the for Selby area.
The new North Yorkshire council is committed to providing households across North Yorkshire with a high-quality waste and recycling collection service. Unlike the collection of your paper, glass, cans, plastic, and non-recyclable waste, garden waste collection is a non-statutory service – this means we are not required to provide it. Currently, garden waste collections across North Yorkshire are provided as an opt-in subscription service, except in the Selby area where garden waste is collected free of charge. We know that many households across the Selby area value this service and we want to continue to make it available.
From 1 April 2023, the new North Yorkshire council replaces the 8 councils currently providing district and county level services. To be fair to all households in North Yorkshire, the new council is harmonising the garden waste collection service, so all households have the choice to receive the same service funded in the same way.
In response to exceptional financial pressures on public services, this self-funding approach to garden waste collection is in line with the majority of other councils across England. The average cost in the Yorkshire and Humber region is around £44 for an annual garden waste subscription. The annual fee for 2023/24 for households in North Yorkshire is £43.50 per garden waste subscription.
Households who do not wish to pay for the service are free to make their own arrangements, such as home composting, or dispose garden waste at their local household waste recycling centre for free.
The 6-week consultation, open until 3 April 2023, allows residents in the Selby area to share their views and help inform us on the future demand for the garden waste collection service in the Selby area.
As the consultation runs to 3 April 2023, there will be no change to the existing garden waste collection service in the Selby area from 1 April. We will tell you about any changes through press releases, messages on social media, and communications on our website later in the year.
Have your say
Frequently asked questions
Why are you reviewing the garden waste collection service in the Selby area?
What changes are happening to garden waste collection?
To be fair to all households in North Yorkshire, garden waste collection services are being harmonised so households that choose to subscribe to the service receive the same service funded in the same way.
The annual subscription fee for garden waste collection for 2023/4 is £43.50 across the county, per standard 240 litre bin.
When are any changes likely to happen?
The 6-week consultation will run from 20 February to 3 April 2023. There will be no change to the existing garden waste collection service in the Selby area until after the consultation process has ended.
We will tell you about any changes through press releases, communications on social media, and communications on our website.
Who will this affect?
This will affect all households using the garden waste collection service in the Selby area.
Will the number of garden waste collections per year change?
There will be no change in the existing garden waste collection service in the Selby area until after the consultation process has been concluded and the results have been analysed and reviewed by councillors. We will tell you about any changes through press releases, communications on social media, and communications on our website.
How do I let the council know I no longer want my garden waste collected?
The garden waste collection subscription service is an opt-in service. You will only need to contact us if you want to sign-up to the service, to continue to have your garden waste collected.
If you do not want to sign up to the service, you do not have to contact us.
Does the council have to collect my garden waste?
Unlike the collection of your paper, glass, cans, plastic, and non-recyclable waste, councils are not required to collect garden waste – it is an optional service. Councils are not required by law to collect garden waste free of charge.
I already pay council tax, why is the council consulting on charging for garden waste collections?
Council tax contributions go towards statutory services such as education, adult social care, fire and rescue services, normal household waste collection, road maintenance, street lighting, etc. Garden waste collection is a non-statutory service which is optional for households to subscribe to.
Will I receive a reduction in my council tax if do not opt-in for the garden waste collection service?
No. Your council tax supports the essential services you value at a time of exceptional financial pressures on public services.
How does the council use the income from the garden waste collection service?
Councils pay a gate fee for every tonne of garden waste that is taken to a composting site. The average gate fee in the Selby area is £22.50 per tonne. The subscription fee will cover the costs of collecting garden waste and taking it to these composing sites.
What do other councils do?
This self-funding approach to garden waste collection is in line with the majority of other councils across England. The current average cost in the Yorkshire and Humber region is £44 for an annual garden waste collection subscription. The annual subscription fee in North Yorkshire for 2023/24 is £43.50.
Will there be help for residents without the means to pay or who are in receipt of benefits?
There are no exceptions or concessions.
Can I share a bin with a neighbour?
Yes, you can share a garden waste bin subscription with your neighbour. One of you will have to arrange to subscribe to the service and we will only empty the bin from the registered address. You will have to sort out payment of the subscription between yourselves. We will not get involved in any arrangements or disputes neighbours may have.
What are the alternatives to garden waste collections?
People who do not wish to use the garden waste service may wish to consider home composting, or they can take their garden waste to their local household waste recycling centre.
Will I still be able to take garden waste to the household waste and recycling centres (HWRCs)?
Yes, you can continue to take your garden waste to any of our household waste and recycling centre, free of charge.
Will this encourage more fly tipping?
The majority of local authorities across England charge to collect garden waste, including all but the Selby area of North Yorkshire. There is no evidence to suggest that charging a subscription fee leads to an increase in fly tipping, which is a criminal offence and liable to enforcement action where appropriate.
Won’t this increase the amount of waste going to landfill?
Benchmarking information from the subscription-based garden waste collection services across the rest of North Yorkshire suggests households that do not subscribe to the service tend to either compost their garden waste material at home or take it to their local household waste and recycling centre. We do not expect an increase in landfill.
Very little waste is disposed of to landfill as most waste is either recycled or used for energy recovery to produce electricity.
How will this help the environment?
It is important to dispose of all waste responsibly and in a manner that reduces harm to the environment. The most environmentally friendly way to deal with garden waste is to compost it in your garden.
Garden waste collected through the garden waste collection service, or through our household waste and recycling centres, is turned into soil improvers or compost for use in farming or horticulture.
What happens to the garden waste you collect?
Garden waste collected through the garden waste collection service, or through our household waste and recycling centres, is turned into soil improvers or compost for use in farming or horticulture.
How can I give my views?
You can give us your views by completing our online questionnaire.
The consultation survey is also available in paper format which can be collected from the Selby Library, Sherburn Villages and Community Library, and Tadcaster Community Library. See library opening times.
If you would like a copy of this questionnaire in another format (including paper, easy read or large print), you can contact us to have a copy posted to you.
When does the consultation close?
The consultation started on 20 February and will run for a duration of 6-weeks, closing on 3 April 2023.
Using your personal information
Any information provided in this survey will be used in the strictest confidence and only for the use of the Selby Area Garden Waste Collection Service Consultation. For further information on how we collect, use, share, secure and retain your personal information, and your legal rights, please see our Privacy Notice.