Please see the update below on 6th February 2024.

An agenda item at the January 2024 meeting raised a question regarding the replacement of the Green Bins.

Item: The existing small green bins are to be replaced by a 240l bin at double the cost. What will happen with the smaller bins and this is a considerable increase in costs.

The Parish Council raised this with NYC Councillor Angus Thompson. Please see his correspondence below.

Dear All,

I can appreciate that the new scheme appears to be inefficient but in fact the reverse is true. We within the old RDC District have been out of line with other councils in terms of size of bins etc. and it is by bringing everyone onto a uniform system, so everyone has the same size of bin and the same charge, that we can make savings across the county.

Some were paying more than RDC customers, some were paying less eg. Selby residents who weren’t charged for green bins. The end product however is savings across the county.

It is not just a question of the size of bins, but the vehicles required to collect the rubbish. If we are all on the same system ie. identical bins, then savings can be made on the vehicles. You may have noticed that Harrogate yellow vehicles have been used in the last 9 months to collect recycling and non recycling rubbish. This is because Harrogate had a surplus of vehicles, RDC had a deficit. Hence saving money.

When it comes to ordering replacement lorries, then discounts for bulk buying should come into play, but ONLY if we are all on the same system.

Savings like this can only be achieved if we are all on the same system. Harrogate lorries could not be used for RDC green waste if they were geared up for larger bins whilst our bins were the smaller ones.

I hope this clarifies any confusion.

Regards,

Angus Thompson.

UPDATE: Received from NYC via Councillor Angus Thompson dated 2nd February 2024:

Dear Councillor Thompson

Thank you for your email. 

Yes, you are correct residents can keep their existing 140 small bin, but they will have to pay the increased charge of £46.

There has been no requirement to make any changes to the bin wagons, the wagons are able to collect a whole range of bin from 140 litres to 1100 litres.

Regards

Amanda Dyson

Area Manager (Waste & Street Scene)

North Yorkshire Council

Mercury House

Station Road

Richmond

DL10 4JX