City of York Council has launched a consultation inviting residents to share their views on proposed changes to kerbside recycling collections.
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.
Most households currently use 3 recycling boxes collected every fortnight. The council is proposing the introduction of 2 240‑litre wheeled recycling bins, each collected every 4 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 2 weeks.
The launch of this engagement follows national changes to household recycling requirements under the government’s Simpler Recycling legislation.
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 Council cites the following benefits:
- more capacity: 2 240‑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 2 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.
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 to 2026 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 5 minutes and includes questions about:
- property type and access
- current recycling habits
- storage and presentation of bins
- views on the proposed 2‑bin system
Paper copies will be available in West Offices and Explore libraries across the city.
Complete the Recycling Review consultation before Friday 1 May 2026.
