THE number of people using their green boxes to recycle has dropped by ten per cent in the last year, a top York council chief has revealed.

Coun Charles Hall, City of York Council's commercial services, said there was some concern residents were not using their recycling services as much as they used to.

Putting the position before a full council meeting, Coun Hall said the number of residents using their green box had fallen from more than 60 per cent in the first quarter of 2004, to just over 50 per cent in the same period in 2005.

However, Coun Hall said that that those who did recycle were putting more into their boxes, as the total amount saved from landfill rose from 1,665 tonnes in the first quarter of 2004, to 1,922 tonnes in the same period in 2005.

The figures will come as a minor blow to the authority, which is campaigning hard to get as many York people as possible to adopt recycling.

The alternate week refuse collection, which sees household rubbish picked up once a fortnight, was designed with recycling aims in mind.

The Evening Press Bin It! campaign calls for the retention of weekly collections, but is behind initiatives which promote recycling.

Coun Hall said: "I am disappointed about the drop in numbers of people putting out tins, bottles and paper for collection, although obviously pleased that overall the amount of recyclable waste saved from landfill is growing.

"Some areas of York see as few as 20 per cent of residents making use of recycling facilities, while other areas show 80 per cent of green boxes being used.

"I urge those who have access to kerbside recycling to consider what they could transfer from the normal waste collection to the recycling collection.

"Increasing the rate of recycling will help York to reduce the negative impact on the environment, as well as cutting the amount of cash we will be forced to pay to the Government in landfill charges.

"To all those residents who have used the green waste collection, I would like to say thank you, and urge everyone to use the green box as well."

Updated: 10:09 Monday, October 10, 2005