Mini recycling centres in North Yorkshire could face closure as the council considers whether the facilities are still needed following improvements to household recycling collections.
North Yorkshire Council has confirmed it may review the future of recycling banks in other parts of the county after approving plans to remove the remaining mini recycling centres in the former Ryedale district.
The decision has been challenged by six councillors, who have questioned whether the closures could set a precedent for the removal of similar facilities elsewhere.
A report to the council’s transport, economy, environment and enterprise overview and scrutiny committee confirms that no decision has been made to close recycling centres outside the Malton area.
However, it states that following the completion of the countywide kerbside recycling service, it may be appropriate to review the role and effectiveness of mini recycling centres in other localities.
Any future proposals would be considered separately, taking into account recycling volumes, running costs, the condition of equipment and the availability of alternative collections.
The council has already approved the phased removal of recycling banks in the Malton locality, which includes facilities in Helmsley, Kirby, Malton, Norton, Pickering and Ampleforth.
Officers say the introduction of improved household recycling collections has significantly reduced demand for the facilities.
Figures show the amount of recyclable material collected at the sites fell by 37 per cent, from 156.1 tonnes in 2024/25 to 98.8 tonnes in 2025/26.
The largest reduction was recorded at the two Malton sites, where collections fell by 47 per cent.
The council estimates that removing the facilities would avoid annual operating costs of approximately £16,500, although the net saving after accounting for lost income from recyclable materials would be around £7,800.
It would also avoid potential investment of approximately £120,000 in replacing a specialist collection vehicle and refurbishing ageing recycling containers.
However, the decision has been called in for further scrutiny by councillors Kevin Foster, Andy Brown, Stuart Parsons, David Noland, Arnold Warneken and Paul Haslam.
They have questioned the evidence supporting the closures, including how many residents use the facilities, the financial savings and whether the decision could lead to a wider countywide programme.
In his call-in request, Cllr Foster said decisions to remove established recycling facilities should be based on transparent, locality-specific evidence.
He added that they should not “unintentionally create a county-wide policy without councillors and residents having the opportunity to properly scrutinise the implications”.
Cllr Foster added: “This is about protecting the services of Hipswell and Colburn that we see as vital, especially those who don’t have space for all the recycling bins.
“We definitely need them and we also don’t want to overstretch the services at Brompton-on-Swale as well.”
Councillor Stuart Parsons, who represents the Richmond division, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the concern was that the recycling centres would be removed as a result of the new waste policy.
He added: “The problem is that people who cannot accommodate the extra bins will have nowhere to take their recycling.
“That creates the potential for fly-tipping or a build-up of litter across the district.
“The recycling centres are extremely well used. Sadly, some businesses also use them to avoid paying for their waste to be collected.
“But in principle, they are extremely useful facilities.”
The council has acknowledged that it does not know how many households use the mini recycling centres because the sites are unmanned.
However, it says a public survey in the former Ryedale area found that only 5.8 per cent of respondents used local recycling banks to dispose of materials that would not fit in their household bins.
The report also highlights previous closures elsewhere in North Yorkshire.
Harrogate Borough Council reduced its network from 67 mini recycling centres to 11 in 2017, while the former Hambleton District Council removed all its centres following improvements to kerbside collections.
Selby District Council also removed almost all its facilities, retaining just one site at a village hall.
Council officers say these changes were introduced without significant operational problems.
The scrutiny committee will consider the challenged decision on Wednesday, October 21.
Members can allow the original decision to take effect, refer it back for reconsideration or refer the matter to the full council.
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