RESIDENTS in York face having to pay for green waste collections and replacement bins, under plans drawn up by council leaders.

Opening hours at Towthorpe waste centre could also be cut, following on from the closure last May of the Beckfield Lane centre.

City of York Council’s cabinet is expected to launch a public consultation over waste and recycling as it aims to save about £580,000 over the next two years.

Options are likely to include:

• Charging for garden waste collections, either year-round or between March and November

• An annual fee for additional garden bins or for swapping them for home composters

• Suspending winter garden waste collections

• Introducing a food waste collection alongside the garden waste service

• Looking at outsourcing collections to social enterprises or community groups.

The council refused to say how much the charges for garden waste could be, when asked by The Press.

Residents may also be asked for their views on reducing opening hours at Towthorpe waste recycling centre with the options of closing it on a weekday all year round, closing it completely between October and March or only opening it on weekends during this time.

As part of its budget proposals for the next two years, the council plans to charge non-residents £10 to use the city’s waste and recycling sites and to introduce fees for brick, rubble, bonded asbestos and plasterboard.

The council would not say how much the charges could be, although potential fees will be outlined in any consultation.

Coun David Levene, cabinet member for environmental services, said: “We are committed to providing the best possible service and recognise to achieve this we need to listen closely to the views of residents.

“However, we need to be honest with the public, and given the challenging financial situation facing the council, a review of all services is essential.”

The consultation would include phone interviews with 500 residents, an online survey and face-to-face sessions with those using the Towthorpe site, with results and recommendations going before the cabinet in spring.