Waste and recycling

Bags to Bins Scheme

We're changing the way that household waste is collected at a number of properties in York, moving from black sacks to wheelie bin collections.

About 6,000 properties will be moved from bags to bins. We'll write to all affected properties directly with full details of the upcoming changes.

Wheelie bins have a number of benefits over black sack collections, as they:

  • keep waste secure
  • stop pests and vermin from getting in
  • improve hygiene
  • reduce litter

Wheelie bins are also safer for our staff, as they need less manual handling and so reduce waste-related injuries.

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Black bin delivery

Each household in scope will receive one 180 litre wheeled bin as standard, which will usually hold 3 black 60 litre bin bags. We are unable to provide bins of a smaller capacity.

Delivery dates of bins cannot be changed. If you will not be available to receive your bin, please ask a neighbour or family member to accept and store it for you.

Your bin will be delivered to the front edge of your property. You're encouraged to label your bin with your house number as soon as possible.

If your bin is lost, damaged or stolen, any replacements will be subject to our usual charges for replacement waste containers. We'll only replace damaged containers free of charge if the damage was reported by our crews at the time of collection. Labelling your bin help us to identify your property.

If you experience capacity issues due to the number of occupants, you can request a larger bin during the rollout by emailing Waste, Highways and Environmental Services. Include "Bags to Bins" in your email subject. Any requests for larger bins made after the Bags to Bins Scheme has finished will incur charges.

If you refuse the free bin offered as part of the Bags to Bins Scheme, bagged waste will no longer be collected from your property. You will be expected to make private arrangements to dispose of your household waste. You may still take your waste free of charge to one of our Household Waste Recycling Centres, we will no longer accept bags presented for collection. Any future bin delivery requests will be subject to our usual charges for replacement waste containers.

Only black bins provided by us can be used to present your household waste. If you already have a council wheeled bin, you may continue to use it for waste presentation.

Refunds will not be provided for bins purchased from the council prior to the Bags to Bins Scheme, and we will not collect previously used containers, for example, storage bins.

We'll no longer collect waste presented in black sacks, except where there has been a known issue with missed collections, leading to excess waste or a reasonable adjustment arrangement is in place through the assisted service.

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Black bin collections

Bins should usually be presented at the front edge of your property. If this is not the case, we will write to you directly and advise you of any alternate collection point. If in doubt, please check our waste collection calendar.

There will be no change to your recycling collections. Boxes should be presented at the front of your property as usual.

To ensure successful collection you must put your household waste out between 7.00pm on the day before collection, and 7.00am on your collection day. Do not put your rubbish out at any other time.

Bins must be returned to your property boundary as soon as possible after collection, ideally by 7.00pm on the day of collection. Abandoned bins will be removed and any request for a replacement bin will be subject to our usual charges for replacement waste containers.

Only 1 bin will be emptied per household at any one time. You should not present any more waste than will fit in your bin. Bins must be presented with lids closed and any black sacks presented next to your bin will not be collected, unless approved after a previous missed collection has been reported.

There will be no change to your collection dates, and household waste collections will continue every fortnight. Check your collection dates with the waste collection calendar.

If you feel you'll have difficulty presenting a wheelie bin for collection, eligible households can apply for assisted collections.

If you already have assisted collections, we'll continue to collect your bin, but we may need to change the agreed collection point. If you’re of unsure of where to place your waste for collection, please contact us.

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Missed collections

You should report missed waste collections within 24 hours by contacting Waste, Highways and Environmental Services. Missed assisted collections should be reported within 5 working days.

You cannot report missed collections before 4.00pm on the scheduled collection day.

If you report a missed bin, we'll collect extra bags of household waste during your next scheduled collection. You can put out additional bags equivalent to your usual bin size, for example, a 180 litre bin will usually hold 3 black bin bags (60 litre bags).

We'll only revisit to collect your household waste if you receive assisted collections.

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Garden waste

Moving to a wheeled bin collection means that your property may be eligible for a garden waste collection in the future.

We're inviting residents who don’t currently have a garden waste collection service, to tell us if you’re interested in joining our scheme.

Let us know if you’re interested in getting a garden waste collection

The information you provide will help us to see if we can potentially extend the service across York and assess whether it would be possible to offer collections at your property in future.

If you’re unable to complete the garden waste collections survey online, please call us on: 01904 551551 and member of our team will support you.

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Waste collections for a holiday let/Airbnb

If you own or manage a holiday let or Airbnb, you must store, safely contain, and dispose of any waste from your property in a responsible and lawful manner.

Waste generated by holiday lets is considered commercial waste, and as such is not entitled to free domestic collection service.

You may only keep the bin and present it for collection if you have an active contract with our commercial waste service. If you do not currently have a contract in place, the bin will be removed from your property. To apply for commercial contract or for more information, please contact commwaste@york.gov.uk directly.

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Also see

Waste, Highways and Environmental Services

Telephone: 01904 551551

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