04-05-2025
'Bins overflowing with pizza boxes' - call for wider rollout of bigger litter bins
The rollout of larger litter bins in York should be extended beyond the city centre as existing ones elsewhere struggle to cope, a local campaigner has said.
Liberal Democrat activist Andrew Mortimer said York Council should consider installing larger bins outside shops and takeaways by the Hull Road and Melrosegate junction to replace ones which regularly overflow.
Labour's Cllr Jenny Kent, the council's environment spokesperson, said the authority's waste collection teams were working to keep the city as tidy as possible despite being stretched.
It follows the roll out of larger 240l litter bins in recent months to boost capacity and stop them overflowing as regularly or getting blocked.
The scheme has seen new bins installed at the southern end of Parliament Street, in Stonebow, Duncolme Place and along Blake Street.
A council report stated there were plans to install bins in Station Road, close to York Station by the Cholera Burial Ground, this year.
It added other sites could be considered for new bins in the future as and where appropriate.
The council has also bought a compact Goupil vehicle designed to pass through narrow spaces in the city centre to collect and clean bins more quickly.
Staff will also be working on new shift patterns covering longer hours and seven days a week from this spring following a successful trial during winter's Christmas Market period.
An extra road sweeper has also been added to the council's fleet this year.
Speaking at a council Environment Decision Session on Tuesday, April 29, campaigner Mr Mortimer said that the rollout of larger litter bins was welcome.
Mr Mortimer said: 'But the report only seems to deal with the city centre, there's a high concentration of takeaways at Hull Road shops and existing bins there are regularly overflowing at the weekend with pizza boxes.
'This seems like the ideal location to trial a larger bin.'
Environment Executive member Cllr Kent said the council was doing its best to stay on top of waste.
The Labour executive member said: 'When we've got nine million visitors a year there will be bins overflowing on a hot summer's day but that doesn't mean there isn't a schedule in place.
The row of shops and takeaways by the the Hull Road and Melrosegate junction, in York. Picture is from Google Street View
'Those bins will be collected and if they haven't been there's a good reason for it, it doesn't mean that someone doesn't care or that there isn't a system.
'Our teams are stretched as they are in all local authorities, but some of the pictures I see on a daily basis of what they've cleaned up before we've had breakfast is revolting.
'They don't give up and they put up with complaints, they're the unsung heroes of our city.'
