SOUTH Craven householders could get two recycling bins as part of a shake-up of North Yorkshire Council's waste collection service.

Residents are being asked to share their views about rubbish and recycling as part of a new public engagement campaign aimed at reducing waste and protecting the environment.

Responses to the Let's Talk Rubbish survey will help the council to understand residents' behaviours and shape future improvements to its collection service.

The council is seeking views on plans to give households two wheeled bins for recycling – one for glass, cans and plastic, and the other for paper and card, with alternate fortnightly collections.

Council bosses say a key aim is to reduce contamination and collect better quality material at the kerbside.

When paper or card is mixed with plastic or glass, or exposed to the elements, it can become wet, and lower the resale value. However, by keeping the items separate, it means they are worth more to recycling manufacturers.

Two bins would also provide residents with maximum capacity to recycle as much material as they can.

The collection of non-recyclable rubbish will remain unchanged, and residents can also opt-in for garden waste collections.

As with current collections, alternative methods would still be used for properties where storage or access is limited.

Cllr Greg White, North Yorkshire Council's executive member for managing our environment, said: "Following an extensive review of the different collection methods, the proposal to provide two bins is our preferred option for recycling collections.

"It would mean residents have the capacity to recycle more, and it would also provide the best value for money, as high-quality, clean recyclable material is worth more to the manufacturers.

"By reducing waste and increasing our recycling, we can also help to conserve our natural resources, protect the local environment, save energy and support our ambitions of becoming carbon negative.

"We realise that this is an important subject, so through Let's Talk Rubbish, we want to know how people feel about their existing collection service and what we can all do to help achieve our goals."

To take part in the survey, visit northyorks.gov.uk/LetsTalk

Copies of the survey are also available in libraries or from the Craven office of North Yorkshire Council at Belle Vue Square, Skipton; by calling 0300 131 2131 – when prompted say 'Let's Talk' – or by email on LetsTalk@northyorks.gov.uk

The deadline for responses is September 16.