PLANS to charge York residents to have their garden waste collected have been scaled back, following a public backlash.

City of York Council had said it may impose charges for green waste collections, but under new plans only those with more than one green bin will be charged.

The council also plans to stop its green bin collections between November and March to save £67,000 and Towthorpe recycling centre could be closed on Wednesdays to save £11,000 under a range of proposals published today.

Around 3,500 residents use more than one green bin and they will be asked to pay £35 a year, raising council income by £122,500. Officials say controversial plans for a blanket garden-waste charge should be scrapped, saying people would not pay, recycling levels would fall and it would mean higher landfill tax costs.

More than 1,000 people responded to a consultation on proposed changes. Of those, 85.4 per cent did not want year-round £30 fees for garden waste collections and 60.7 per cent objected to paying £15 for their green bins to be emptied over winter.

The proposals, which also including drawing up a business plan for combined food and garden waste collections to save £10,400 a year, will be discussed by the council cabinet on April 2.

In a written report, Geoff Derham, the council’s head of waste services, said charging residents who used additional bins would be “relatively simple and straightforward”.

He said charging all residents could have “a negative impact on the council’s recycling strategy” and would potentially lead to increased landfill costs and resistance from residents.

His report said closing Towthorpe tip one day a week was the preferred option from a consultation which saw 500 people have their say. It is least used on Wednesdays.

Coun David Levene, cabinet member for environmental services, said the council recognised it had to listen to residents and businesses to ensure it provided the best possible service.

He added: “We’ve been open and honest with the public throughout this process but, given the challenging financial situation facing the council, a review of all services is essential.”

Liberal Democrat group leader Coun Carol Runciman said she was “extremely concerned” about the garden waste plans and her party would continue to oppose them.

Strensall councillor Paul Doughty, who has led the Conservative’s opposition to changing Towthorpe tip’s opening times, said: “I’m against closing it any day of the week because it will make it more difficult for some residents to use the site, and I fear it could be the thin end of the wedge.”

The proposed changes for green collections and Towthorpe’s operation would save £360,000 over the next two years, £15,000 short of the original target. Cutting waste disposal costs would help to bridge the gap.

The council said only 18 per cent of York’s garden waste was collected between November and March, and stopping the service during this time had been strongly supported. It said most users believed the changes would not affect them.