Under new proposed plans by North Yorkshire Council, recycling centres in the region will restrict access to exclusively local residents and cap visits by commercial vehicles.

If introduced, the new system is estimated to generate savings of up to £405,000 per year and will improve access for North Yorkshire residents.

Council executives will review the proposal on Tuesday 21 October, after which residents will be notified of the new requirement to register their vehicles for recycling centre access.

Approximately 70 percent of local authorities have already implemented similar schemes.

Cllr Richard Foster, executive member for managing our environment, said: “The aim of the review was to identify savings to help achieve a balanced budget and to deliver efficient and effective services. 

“We believe that the proposals strike a balance between keeping the service free and easy to use for residents, while making significant savings. 

“We have found that most neighbouring local authorities restrict access for non-residents and set limits on commercial-like vehicles. 

“The experience of these councils, along with independent research, does not result in increased fly-tipping, although we will continue to monitor the levels.” 

The proposal was backed by residents, after a 12-week consultation last year, with 69 percent of the 3000 participants in favour of restricting access to North Yorkshire residents.

If the plans are successful, North Yorkshire Council promises to ensure local residents are aware of the changes and what steps they need to take before using a household waste recycling centre.