Have your say on introducing wheeled recycling bins
City of York Council is set to launch a city‑wide consultation inviting residents to share their views on proposed changes to kerbside recycling collections from Monday 23 March.
The council is considering moving from the current three‑box system to a wheeled‑bin service and is asking households across the city to take part in a short online survey to help shape the future of recycling in York.
To complete the survey visit: www.york.gov.uk/RecyclingReview – the consultation will close on Friday 1 May 2026.
Most households currently use three recycling boxes collected every fortnight. The council is proposing the introduction of two 240‑litre wheeled recycling bins, each collected every four weeks on alternating cycles. One bin would be for paper and cardboard, while the other would hold plastics, metals, glass and cartons.
Household waste collections, and garden waste subscribers will remain the same and will continue to be collected every fortnight.
The launch of this engagement follows national changes to household recycling requirements under the Government’s Simpler Recycling legislation.
York residents recycle a wide range of materials, and the council believes that moving to wheeled bins could make the service easier to use, more resilient in bad weather and more efficient for crews to collect.
The benefits include:
- More capacity: Two 240‑litre wheeled bins would almost triple the space currently available for recycling.
- Cleaner streets: Lidded bins prevent light items from blowing away, reducing litter and keeping materials dry for better-quality recycling.
- Better safety: Wheeled bins reduce manual lifting for crews and can be easier for residents to move.
- High‑quality recycling: Maintaining two separate recycling streams ensures materials can be more easily recycled and sold to reprocessors.
Current Government guidance does not allow all recycling materials to be placed into a single bin, as paper and cardboard must be kept separate from glass to avoid contamination.
Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, said: “Residents across York are already doing a fantastic job recycling, and we want to make it even easier for people to do the right thing. Wheeled bins would offer more space, reduce mess on windy days and support our crews with a safer collection method.
“This survey is a chance for everyone to tell us how the proposed changes might work for them. Whether you love recycling or simply see it as part of the weekly routine, we really want to hear your views so we can make the best decision for our city.”
Residents across the city are encouraged to take part unless:
- their recycling is collected by St Nicks,
- they received a refuse bin through the 2025/26 Bags to Bins scheme, or
- they live in flats or properties with communal bins, where wheeled recycling bins are already in use.
The survey takes around five minutes and includes questions about:
- property type and access
- current recycling habits
- storage and presentation of bins
- views on the proposed two‑bin system
Paper copies will be available in West Offices and Explores/libraries across the city.
For offline support contact customer services on 01904 551 551 and for alternative formats including braille and large print contact cycaccessteam@york.gov.uk 01904 551551
Drop-in sessions will be taking place and information on these will be available on the website shortly.