As the weather improves and the new growing season begins, now is the ideal time to start thinking about green waste.

City of York Council is reminding residents that up to a third of our waste can be recycled if they make full use of the garden waste collections.

Elizabeth Wray, waste service project officer for the council, said: "Spring is the time of year when we all take a look at our gardens as the grass is growing and the garden needs preparation for the summer.  This is an ideal time to fill up your green wheeled bin with all that garden waste from winter and stop it from filling up landfill sites."

The council provides garden waste collections to 60,000 properties across the city, alternating collections from the green bins for garden waste with collections from the grey bins for rubbish that ends up in landfill sites.

Spring cleaning the garden will generate lots of waste for the green bin, such as last year's leaves and old plants, prunings from spring activities, as well as house plants and grass cuttings.  Residents are also reminded that the council can accept bedding from small vegetarian pets, such as rabbits and guinea pigs, but not kitchen waste. The council can  provide larger green wheeled bins upon request. 

During January and February more than 730 tonnes of garden waste was collected in York and, with Easter approaching, these figures are expected to rise week by week.

Residents who don't receive the garden waste collections or have larger amounts of green waste can take it to one of the council's three Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) at Hazel Court, Towthorpe and Beckfield Lane. All three sites will all be open as usual over Easter.

Full details of HWRC opening times are available on the council's website or by calling 01904 551551.

All garden waste collected by the council is taken to a local composting facility, where it's made into soil conditioner.  Some of this is sold as Green Grow, which is available to buy from Hazel Court HWRC.

Home composting is also an excellent way to recycle in your own garden.  The council is offering three different sized bins priced between £8 and £20, including delivery and information about how to get started.  This offer is in run in conjunction with the North Yorkshire Waste Partnership and the Recycle Now composting scheme. Both garden waste and kitchen waste can be composted safely at home, along with small amounts of scrunched up paper and cardboard.

To order a compost bin, see www.recyclenow.com/compost or call the order hotline on 0845 077 0757.