York’s recycling system is bad for residents, fills streets with rubbish, and is highly inefficient.
So says one councillor, who is calling for a complete change in the way waste is dealt with.
Cllr Mark Warters (Independent, Osbaldwick) wants to replace the current system of boxes with a single wheelie bin for recycling – which is “an ineffective farce”.
As things stand residents sort recyclables into three boxes – glass; plastic and cans; and paper – before putting them out for twice-monthly collections.
Rubbish in the streets
In a letter to City of York Council executive member for the environment, he writes:
-
The notable example I have always used has been neighbouring East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
There mixed recycling – plastics, paper, cardboard and glass are all put in the same receptacle by residents – a blue wheelie bin.
He said this was quicker and easier for residents – “quicker as rubbish does not have to be sorted, and easier because a number of boxes don’t have to be stored and carted about every fortnight – a big consideration for elderly residents but quicker and easier for the council collection teams”.
Instead Cllr Warters says residents have to sort recyclables “into a number of silly little boxes that have to be lifted out on bin day, boxes that frequently see lids and rubbish blowing through the streets in a windy bin day and when emptied are left strewn about the streets, with the empty boxes frequently blowing all over including being a hazard on the public highway”.
He points out that the East Riding council is top in the recycling league table for 2016-17 published by Let’s Recycle.
City of York Council, by contrast, comes in at 191st, with a recycling rate of 42.5%. See the full table below.
YorkMix has reached out to Cllr Andrew Waller for a comment, and will update this story if we receive one.
Rank | Authority | % of household waste sent for reuse, recycling or composting |
---|---|---|
1 | East Riding of Yorkshire Council | 65.40% |
2 | Rochford District Council | 63.90% |
3 | South Oxfordshire District Council | 63.80% |
4 | West Oxfordshire District Council | 63.40% |
5 | Vale of White Horse District Council | 62.50% |
6 | Surrey Heath Borough Council | 62.30% |
7 | Three Rivers District Council | 61.90% |
8 | South Northamptonshire District Council | 61.40% |
9 | Trafford MBC | 61.30% |
10 | Stratford-on-Avon District Council | 61.30% |
11 | Derbyshire Dales District Council | 59.80% |
12 | Guildford Borough Council | 59.70% |
13 | Cotswold District Council | 59.60% |
14 | Woking Borough Council | 59.40% |
15 | Dorset Waste Partnership | 59.40% |
16 | Rutland County Council | 59.30% |
17 | Stockport MBC | 59.00% |
18 | North Hertfordshire District Council | 58.90% |
19 | Mole Valley District Council | 58.20% |
20 | Cheshire West and Chester | 58.00% |
21 | Maldon District Council | 58.00% |
22 | Epping Forest Borough Council | 57.70% |
23 | Oxfordshire County Council | 57.70% |
24 | Tandridge District Council | 57.70% |
25 | Surrey County Council | 57.70% |
26 | St Albans City and District Council | 57.50% |
27 | Staffordshire Moorlands District Council | 57.40% |
28 | Suffolk Coastal District Council | 57.40% |
29 | Cherwell District Council | 56.50% |
30 | North Somerset Council | 56.30% |
31 | Teignbridge District Council | 55.70% |
32 | Devon County Council | 55.70% |
33 | Buckinghamshire County Council | 55.40% |
34 | Cheshire East | 55.20% |
35 | Ashford Borough Council | 55.00% |
36 | Reigate and Banstead Borough Council | 55.00% |
37 | Elmbridge Borough Council | 55.00% |
38 | Shropshire | 54.80% |
39 | Warwick District Council | 54.70% |
40 | South Hams District Council | 54.70% |
41 | Warwickshire County Council | 54.40% |
42 | Warrington Borough Council | 54.30% |
43 | Bath and North East Somerset Council | 54.10% |
44 | Cambridgeshire County Council | 53.80% |
45 | West Devon Borough Council | 53.80% |
46 | Harborough District Council | 53.60% |
47 | Mid Devon District Council | 53.40% |
48 | Tewkesbury Borough Council | 53.30% |
49 | Welwyn Hatfield Council | 53.00% |
50 | Essex County Council | 52.90% |
51 | Tameside MBC | 52.80% |
52 | Bury MBC | 52.70% |
53 | Bexley LB | 52.70% |
54 | Somerset County Council | 52.70% |
55 | East Cambridgeshire District Council | 52.40% |
56 | Lichfield District Council | 52.30% |
57 | Hertfordshire County Council | 52.20% |
58 | Forest of Dean District Council | 52.20% |
59 | Gloucestershire County Council | 52.00% |
60 | Stafford Borough Council | 51.90% |
61 | South Staffordshire Council | 51.90% |
62 | Wealden District Council | 51.90% |
63 | Hambleton District Council | 51.80% |
64 | Daventry District Council | 51.80% |
65 | West Berkshire District Council | 51.80% |
66 | Uttlesford District Council | 51.50% |
67 | Wycombe District Council b | 51.30% |
68 | South Bucks District Council | 51.30% |
69 | Waverley Borough Council | 51.30% |
70 | East Hertfordshire District Council | 51.20% |
71 | Dacorum Borough Council | 51.10% |
72 | Broadland District Council | 50.90% |
73 | Huntingdonshire District Council | 50.80% |
74 | Ealing LB | 50.70% |
75 | Milton Keynes Council | 50.60% |
76 | Fylde Borough Council | 50.50% |
77 | West Somerset District Council | 50.50% |
78 | Rushcliffe Borough Council | 50.40% |
79 | Aylesbury Vale District Council | 50.30% |
80 | Northamptonshire County Council | 50.20% |
81 | Rugby Borough Council | 50.10% |
82 | Suffolk County Council | 50.10% |
83 | Maidstone Borough Council | 49.90% |
84 | Kettering Borough Council | 49.80% |
85 | Calderdale MBC | 49.70% |
86 | Leicestershire County Council | 49.70% |
87 | Braintree District Council | 49.70% |
88 | Kingston-upon-Hull City Council | 49.50% |
89 | Basildon District Council | 49.50% |
90 | Poole Borough Council | 49.50% |
91 | Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council | 49.40% |
92 | East Staffordshire Borough Council | 49.30% |
93 | Staffordshire County Council | 49.20% |
94 | South Gloucestershire Council | 49.20% |
95 | Tunbridge Wells Borough Council | 49.10% |
96 | Oxford City Council | 49.00% |
97 | West Lindsey District Council | 48.90% |
98 | Castle Point Borough Council | 48.90% |
99 | Bournemouth Borough Council | 48.80% |
100 | Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council | 48.60% |
101 | Barnsley MBC | 48.50% |
102 | Charnwood Borough Council | 48.40% |
103 | Derbyshire County Council | 48.30% |
104 | Oadby and Wigston Borough Council | 48.30% |
105 | Rother District Council | 48.30% |
106 | Taunton Deane Borough Council | 48.30% |
107 | South Derbyshire District Council | 48.20% |
108 | High Peak Borough Council | 48.10% |
109 | Blaby District Council | 47.90% |
110 | North Lincolnshire Council | 47.80% |
111 | Melton Borough Council | 47.70% |
112 | Wakefield City MDC | 47.50% |
113 | South Ribble Borough Council | 47.40% |
114 | Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council | 47.40% |
115 | Cheltenham Borough Council | 47.30% |
116 | Rochdale MBC | 47.20% |
117 | Chorley Borough Council | 47.20% |
118 | West Lancashire Borough Council | 47.10% |
119 | Doncaster MBC | 47.00% |
120 | Chelmsford Borough Council | 47.00% |
121 | Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames | 47.00% |
122 | Bromley LB | 46.90% |
123 | Epsom and Ewell Borough Council | 46.80% |
124 | Sedgemoor District Council | 46.80% |
125 | Greater Manchester WDA (MBC) | 46.70% |
126 | North Yorkshire County Council | 46.70% |
127 | North West Leicestershire District Council | 46.70% |
128 | Lincolnshire County Council | 46.70% |
129 | Norfolk County Council | 46.70% |
130 | Isle of Wight Council | 46.50% |
131 | Ryedale District Council | 46.40% |
132 | North East Derbyshire District Council | 46.30% |
133 | Fenland District Council | 46.30% |
134 | Kent County Council | 46.30% |
135 | East Northamptonshire Council | 46.20% |
136 | North Warwickshire Borough Council | 46.20% |
137 | Central Bedfordshire | 46.20% |
138 | South Somerset District Council | 46.20% |
139 | North Kesteven District Council | 46.10% |
140 | Cambridge City and South Cambs Councils c | 46.10% |
141 | East Devon District Council | 46.10% |
142 | Chesterfield Borough Council | 46.00% |
143 | Southend-on-Sea Borough Council | 46.00% |
144 | Spelthorne Borough Council | 46.00% |
145 | Telford and Wrekin Council | 45.80% |
146 | Tamworth Borough Council | 45.80% |
147 | Colchester Borough Council | 45.80% |
148 | Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council | 45.70% |
149 | Lancashire County Council | 45.60% |
150 | Stroud District Council | 45.50% |
151 | East Lindsey District Council | 45.40% |
152 | Cannock Chase Council | 45.40% |
153 | Brentwood Borough Council | 45.20% |
154 | Salford City Council MBC | 44.90% |
155 | Wyre Borough Council | 44.90% |
156 | South Norfolk Council | 44.90% |
157 | Bromsgrove District Council | 44.70% |
158 | Dover District Council | 44.70% |
159 | Cumbria County Council | 44.50% |
160 | Horsham District Council | 44.50% |
161 | North Devon District Council | 44.50% |
162 | Bolton MBC | 44.40% |
163 | Canterbury City Council | 44.40% |
164 | West Sussex County Council | 44.30% |
165 | Nottinghamshire County Council | 44.20% |
166 | Wychavon District Council | 44.20% |
167 | Runnymede Borough Council | 44.10% |
168 | Harlow District Council | 43.90% |
169 | Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council | 43.80% |
170 | Mid Suffolk District Council | 43.80% |
171 | Wigan MBC | 43.70% |
172 | Halton Borough Council | 43.60% |
173 | East Sussex County Council | 43.60% |
174 | Hertsmere Borough Council | 43.40% |
175 | Hillingdon LB | 43.40% |
176 | Bristol City Council | 43.40% |
177 | Mendip District Council | 43.40% |
178 | St Edmundsbury Borough Council | 43.30% |
179 | South Kesteven District Council | 43.20% |
180 | Wiltshire | 43.10% |
181 | Eden District Council | 42.90% |
182 | Watford Borough Council | 42.90% |
183 | Medway Borough Council | 42.80% |
184 | Erewash Borough Council | 42.70% |
185 | Wellingborough Borough Council | 42.70% |
186 | Worcestershire County Council | 42.70% |
187 | Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council | 42.60% |
188 | Selby District Council | 42.60% |
189 | Craven District Council | 42.60% |
190 | Corby Borough Council | 42.60% |
191 | York City Council | 42.50% |
192 | Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council | 42.50% |
193 | Shepway District Council | 42.50% |
194 | South Lakeland District Council | 42.40% |
195 | Solihull MBC | 42.40% |
196 | Waveney District Council | 42.40% |
197 | Richmond upon Thames LB | 42.40% |
198 | Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council MBC | 42.30% |
199 | Torridge District Council | 42.20% |
200 | Rotherham MBC | 42.10% |
201 | Bolsover District Council | 42.10% |
202 | Wolverhampton MBC | 42.00% |
203 | Peterborough City Council | 41.90% |
204 | North Norfolk District Council | 41.90% |
205 | Hampshire County Council | 41.60% |
206 | Swale Borough Council | 41.60% |
207 | Northampton Borough Council | 41.50% |
208 | Torbay Council | 41.50% |
209 | Richmondshire District Council | 41.30% |
210 | Walsall MBC | 41.30% |
211 | Herefordshire Council | 41.20% |
212 | Merseyside WDA (MBC) | 41.10% |
213 | Broxbourne Borough Council | 41.10% |
214 | Chichester District Council | 41.10% |
215 | Carlisle City Council | 41.00% |
216 | Ashfield District Council | 41.00% |
217 | Sandwell MBC | 41.00% |
218 | Leicester City Council | 40.70% |
219 | Bedford | 40.70% |
220 | Eastleigh Borough Council | 40.70% |
221 | Breckland Council | 40.30% |
222 | Bracknell Forest Borough Council | 40.10% |
223 | Ipswich Borough Council | 40.00% |
224 | Scarborough Borough Council | 39.90% |
225 | Broxtowe Borough Council | 39.90% |
226 | Stevenage Borough Council | 39.80% |
227 | Oldham MBC | 39.70% |
228 | Harrow LB | 39.70% |
229 | Gloucester City Council | 39.70% |
230 | Mid Sussex District Council | 39.60% |
231 | County Durham | 39.50% |
232 | West London Waste Authority | 39.10% |
233 | Lancaster City Council | 38.90% |
234 | St Helens MBC | 38.90% |
235 | Harrogate Borough Council | 38.90% |
236 | Wokingham Council | 38.90% |
237 | Arun District Council | 38.90% |
238 | Croydon LB | 38.60% |
239 | Swindon Borough Council | 38.40% |
240 | Norwich City Council | 38.30% |
241 | Hart District Council | 38.30% |
242 | Sevenoaks District Council | 38.30% |
243 | Allerdale Borough Council | 37.90% |
244 | Leeds City Council MBC | 37.90% |
245 | Sefton MBC | 37.80% |
246 | Northumberland | 37.70% |
247 | Malvern Hills District Council | 37.70% |
248 | Boston Borough Council | 37.60% |
249 | Forest Heath District Council | 37.50% |
250 | Darlington Borough Council | 37.40% |
251 | Barnet LB | 37.40% |
252 | Dudley MBC | 37.30% |
253 | Havering LB | 37.30% |
254 | Enfield LB | 37.20% |
255 | Thurrock Council | 37.10% |
256 | Eastbourne Borough Council | 37.10% |
257 | Ribble Valley Borough Council | 37.00% |
258 | Bradford City MDC (MBC) | 37.00% |
259 | Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council | 36.70% |
260 | Gedling Borough Council | 36.70% |
261 | Worcester City Council | 36.70% |
262 | Sutton LB | 36.50% |
263 | Brent LB | 36.40% |
264 | Lincoln City Council | 36.20% |
265 | Manchester City Council MBC | 36.00% |
266 | Wirral MBC | 35.90% |
267 | Haringey LB | 35.70% |
268 | Merton LB | 35.70% |
269 | Burnley Borough Council | 35.50% |
270 | Derby City Council | 35.30% |
271 | Worthing Borough Council | 35.30% |
272 | North Tyneside Council | 35.20% |
273 | Greenwich LB | 34.90% |
274 | Stoke-on-Trent City Council | 34.80% |
275 | South Tyneside MBC | 34.70% |
276 | Mansfield District Council | 34.60% |
277 | Cornwall | 34.60% |
278 | Rossendale Borough Council | 34.50% |
279 | Gravesham Borough Council | 34.50% |
280 | Waltham Forest LB | 34.40% |
281 | Gateshead MBC | 34.20% |
282 | Winchester City Council | 34.20% |
283 | Pendle Borough Council | 34.10% |
284 | Southwark LB | 34.00% |
285 | Luton Borough Council | 33.80% |
286 | East Hampshire District Council | 33.80% |
287 | Thanet District Council | 33.80% |
288 | Middlesbrough Borough Council | 33.70% |
289 | Blackpool Borough Council | 33.50% |
290 | Great Yarmouth Borough Council | 33.30% |
291 | Fareham Borough Council | 33.20% |
292 | Hartlepool Borough Council | 33.10% |
293 | Test Valley Borough Council | 33.00% |
294 | Hyndburn Borough Council | 32.90% |
295 | Knowsley MBC | 32.80% |
296 | Wyre Forest District Council | 32.80% |
297 | Adur District Council | 32.70% |
298 | Copeland Borough Council | 32.50% |
299 | Amber Valley Borough Council | 32.20% |
300 | North London Waste Authority | 32.20% |
301 | Reading Borough Council | 32.10% |
302 | Plymouth City Council | 32.00% |
303 | Newark and Sherwood District Council | 31.90% |
304 | Islington LB | 31.60% |
305 | Exeter City Council | 31.60% |
306 | Preston City Council | 31.40% |
307 | Redditch Borough Council | 31.00% |
308 | New Forest District Council | 31.00% |
309 | Hastings Borough Council | 30.30% |
310 | Kirklees MBC | 30.10% |
311 | Hounslow LB | 30.10% |
312 | Coventry City Council | 29.90% |
313 | Nottingham City Council | 29.80% |
314 | Sheffield City Council | 29.60% |
315 | Havant Borough Council | 29.50% |
316 | Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council | 29.30% |
317 | North East Lincolnshire Council | 28.90% |
318 | Lambeth LB | 28.80% |
319 | City of London | 28.50% |
320 | South Holland District Council | 28.30% |
321 | Southampton City Council | 28.20% |
322 | Liverpool City Council | 28.10% |
323 | Tower Hamlets LB | 27.60% |
324 | Crawley Borough Council | 27.40% |
325 | Hackney LB | 27.00% |
326 | Brighton and Hove Council | 27.00% |
327 | Tendring District Council | 26.80% |
328 | Redbridge LB | 26.70% |
329 | Camden LB | 26.60% |
330 | Rushmoor Borough Council | 26.60% |
331 | Sunderland City Council | 26.50% |
332 | Slough Borough Council | 26.30% |
333 | Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council | 26.30% |
334 | Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council | 25.80% |
335 | East London Waste Authority | 25.80% |
336 | Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea | 25.70% |
337 | Barking and Dagenham LB | 25.30% |
338 | Dartford Borough Council | 25.20% |
339 | Lewes District Council | 25.10% |
340 | Portsmouth City Council | 24.70% |
341 | Birmingham City Council | 24.40% |
342 | Western Riverside Waste Authority | 23.70% |
343 | Hammersmith and Fulham LB | 23.20% |
344 | Gosport Borough Council | 22.00% |
345 | Wandsworth LB | 21.90% |
346 | Bassetlaw District Council | 21.10% |
347 | Council of the Isles of Scilly | 19.50% |
348 | Lewisham LB | 17.70% |
349 | Westminster City Council | 17.40% |
350 | Newham LB | 14.10% |