A RYEDALE councillor has launched a petition to restore weekly green bin collections in the summer.

Coun Paul Andrews is asking for the extra collections after Ryedale District Council proposed to collect the brown garden waste bins monthly instead of fortnightly from December to early March.

The aim is to save around £24,000 in fuel, vehicle hire and overtime payments.

However, Coun Andrews feels these savings should be redistributed to restore weekly green bin collections, particularly during the school summer holidays.

“I have been concerned for some time about the public health issues that arise in the summer due to the smells and overloaded bins which can attract vermin.

“I believe the problem gets worse in the school summer holidays when the weather is warm and there is more green bin refuse to collect due to school children being at home.”

Coun Andrews is visiting households in Malton to collect signatures for his petition which he aims to present to the full council meeting on Thursday, November 5.

A meeting of Ryedale Council’s community services committee last month revealed that as well as the financial savings, the fewer miles travelled would result in a carbon saving of 42 tonnes.