PLANS to boost recycling in York could see new rubbish lorries bought for the city.

City of York Council has a long-term target to increase the amount of rubbish sent to recycling by 5,000 tonnes, making recycling rates more than 50 percent and saving half a million pounds in landfill tax.

The councillor responsible, executive member Andrew Waller, has set out a number of plans to encourage people to recycle more, including buying new recycling lorries to make sure money is not wasted.

He said: “The first step in our efforts was last week’s reversal of the plans to charge for the first green bin per house.

“Our Emergency Budget also confirmed that we will have two additional green bin collections over the winter period to help boost recycling, and a campaign to promote recycling across the city.”

Wider recycling rates have fallen in the city from 46 percent in 2011/12 to 44.5 percent in 2014/15, with landfill tax costing the council £4 million.

In a report he will deliver next week, Cllr Waller said new vehicles would save money as they would ensure that having one lorry out of circulation because of mechanical problems, as has been the case, would not mean recyclable waste had to be mixed together at collection, and separated again later costing the council money.

He wrote: “I have asked for the business case to be brought to a public decision session which will enable the purchase of new vehicles. The report will reassess the advantages of separation of recyclables as currently happens in York and has been successfully operated for almost 10 years and delivers a high quality material which gains a premium value in the recycling market.”

His report also sets out new procedures for composting at Harewood Whin recycling plant, to prevent another compost fire, and asks for a review of street cleaning and litter bins to improve the appearance of the city.

Cllr Waller will give an overview of the work going on in his environment portfolio in a report to the communities and environment policy and scrutiny committee before its meeting on July 27.