TRADITIONAL weekly rubbish collections in York could be consigned to the dustbin forever under radical waste disposal proposals set to go before senior city councillors.
The proposals, part of City of York Council's waste management strategy, are aimed at drastically increasing the amount of waste recycled in York each year.
Government targets state that 12 per cent of household waste should be recycled or composted by 2003 and 2004. That target jumps to 18 per cent by 2005 and 2006. The proposals could see the standard rubbish collection being replaced by a "greener" system, with household rubbish and recyclables picked up on alternate weeks.
Other options include keeping things as they are, introducing a fortnightly collection of dry recyclables as well as the household rubbish collection, or bringing in a fortnightly collection of kitchen and garden waste alongside the usual rubbish collection.
A major public consultation on the issue, which saw questionnaire leaflets delivered to all York households, received an "excellent" response rate of 16 per cent, said City of York Council's waste strategy development manager, Kristy Walton.
Of those 16 per cent, 80 per cent said they would like to maximise recycling and composting to keep incineration to a minimum.
Eighty-two per cent would be willing to separate recyclable items out if offered a kerbside collection from their home, with 42 per cent in favour and 32 per cent against an alternate weekly collection for recyclable and standard household waste.
There was strong support for paying for an additional recycling service, but the majority of residents, 60 per cent, were in favour of alternate weekly collections over any council tax hike.
"York residents are willing to recycle," said Ms Walton
"The growth of household waste at three per cent is unsustainable, will lead to significant increases in costs and will also limit the city's ability to achieve the range of recycling and recovery targets it has been set. It is essential measures are taken to slow down this growth."
The proposals are to be discussed at the council's executive meeting on Friday.
richard.edwards@ycp.co.uk
Updated: 12:15 Monday, November 11, 2002
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