A SCHEME that could bring kerbside recycling to terraced streets across York is to be discussed by councillors.

The proposal would see electric refuse vehicles similar to milk floats negotiating narrow roads that do not currently receive a recycling service, including areas of Acomb, Fishergate, South Bank and Hull Road.

Members of City of York Council's commercial services scrutiny board will discuss the plan, which would boost the council's drive to reduce household waste, at their meeting on Tuesday.

Coun Irene Waudby said: "We want to get recycling into as many areas as we can. There are still parts of the city where it is difficult.

"It is certainly easier for getting into the smaller areas where we could not get a big vehicle down."

If the committee supports the idea, it will be put to the city council's executive committee early next year.

The vehicles can carry up to 2.5 tonnes of waste glass, paper and tins but they cannot take plastics.

By using narrow recycling boxes, council officers said the system would reduce worries about disabled and older people tripping over large boxes on terraced street pavements.

They also said it would reduce health and safety concerns for refuse workers because it involves less heavy lifting.

Scrutiny officer Ruth Sherratt said: "Most of the public are very pro the recycling initiatives that have been brought in.

"One of the issues that has been noticed is that people want more recycling.

"The scrutiny board have tapped into that by saying we need to provide a really comprehensive service."

The committee visited the St Nicholas Fields Community Recycling scheme in Tang Hall, which provides a collection service to streets around Alcuin Avenue using a similar vehicle.

Officers compiled a report on a successful scheme by South Lakeland District Council, in Kendal, Cumbria.

Mrs Sherratt said: "The Kendal team were very impressed because the vehicle exceeded their expectations. So far it has been a good model to look at as a potential scheme for York."

In March plastics are to be added to kerbside recycling collections at 60,000 homes, after councillors agreed this month to lease five new refuse vehicles.

It follows the controversial introduction of a fortnightly collection of household waste, with a garden refuse collection every other week, in an effort to boost recycling and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill sites.

Updated: 12:04 Wednesday, October 26, 2005