North Yorkshire councillors approved plans earlier this year to introduce a harmonised recycling service for residents across the county.

Under the plans, the majority of residents will have alternate fortnightly household recycling collections, one for paper and card and one for all other recyclable materials, including glass, cans, plastics and cartons.

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Bins started  arriving in Malton today and in Norton from today (Monday 21st). The rest of Ryedale will follow over 10 weeks.

North Yorkshire Cllr Keane Duncan, who represents Norton, visited the Malton depot to find out more and share key information with residents.

He said: "Residents will receive two new recycling bins, each with a capacity of 240L."

Your blue bin is for paper and card

Your red bin is for glass, cans and plastic

You keep your green general waste bin

You keep your brown garden waste bin too (if you subscribe to this service)

Cllr Duncan said: "𝐃𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐭. You will receive a further letter telling you the dates your new recycling bins should be used. This should be in June. Your collection day may change and this will also be indicated in your letter.

"Your new recycling bins will be left at your property boundary. For properties on assisted collections, your new bins will be left where your existing bins are stored. For rural properties where bins are left at the lane end, your new bins will be left there.

" Each of your two new recycling bins will be emptied on alternate fortnights (every four weeks). Your general waste bin will still be collected every two weeks, just as it is now. All the dates will be in your next letter.

" You will be able to recycle more materials than presently including plastic pots, tubs and trays, food/drink cartons and clean foil.

" You are encouraged to keep your redundant boxes and make use of them. However, if you do not wish to do so, they can be dropped off at North Yorkshire Council’s household waste recycling centres.

"If you currently receive a sack collection for both rubbish and recycling, you will stay on a sack collection. If you currently receive a sack collection for recycling, but a wheelie bin collection for general waste, the council may be able to move you to the new wheelie bin collection for recycling. The council will write to everyone on a sack collection to share further information.

"If you live in a flat and have a communal arrangement for waste, you will not receive the new bins. However, the number, type and size of bins at each site will be reviewed to ensure there is enough capacity for residents to recycle as much as possible."

Cllr Lindsay Burr, who represents Malton, is supporting the new North Yorkshire recycling initiative.

She also visited the Malton depot recently to talk to officers, and was impressed by the new plans.

Cllr Burr said: "Recycling is so important and for far too long residents have called for more ability and clarity to recycle more, especially to recycle plastic.

"Generally the majority of residents are engaged in the recycling process and the two new large bins are aimed to expand this collaboration between residents and council.

"It should also help with efficiency regarding collection, increase North Yorkshire’s recycling targets and help towards carbon reduction targets."

If you have not received your new bins by Thursday, June 19, or if your neighbours have had their bins and you have not, contact North Yorkshire Council on 0300 131 2131 or via the website.