Commercial Waste Management Helmsley

Photo: Helmsley: Cornercopia Cafe and Mannion and Co. cc-by-sa/2.0 – © Michael Garlick – geograph.org.uk/p/6287699

Helmsley is the only market town in the North York Moors National Park, which makes it the perfect base for enjoying the wider area. Situated in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, the town has a bustling market square, dramatic castle ruins, charming tea rooms and inviting inns, quaint shops and lovely restaurants. Its small population of just 1,500 is (not surprisingly) swelled by visitors and tourists who enjoy everything the town has to offer. There’s always plenty to do in the town itself and its facilities include an open-air swimming pool and a recreation ground for tennis, bowls, cricket and football.

Tourism is one of the town’s main sources of income, and also helps support the dozens of businesses in and around the area. Visitors come from far and wide to see attractions like the National Centre for Birds of Prey, Helmsley Castle, Helmsley Arts Centre and the Walled Gardens and Helmsley Brewery. However, arguably the town’s biggest draw is its close proximity to the North York Moors National Park. Helmsley acts as a gateway to the area for visitors, giving them a perfect excuse to make one last stop before heading out on their Yorkshire adventures.

One particular route noted for its popularity is the Cleveland Way, this horseshoe-shaped route travels around the North York Moors National Park and starts in Helmsley. It’s also a popular destination for motor-bikers who enjoy the great roads, like the famous “Helmsley TT” to Stokesley. Many bikers like a ride to Helmsley for fish and chips or a coffee to enjoy on the Lord Feversham Monument whilst they watch the world go by.

Helmsley’s household waste is managed by Ryedale District Council, which manages a district of approximately 20 other towns, villages and hamlets, with over 53,000 people relying on their services. Historically, the region has claimed the top spot in government statistics related to the percentage of household waste sent for recycling, reuse or composting. When these figures were first recorded across the country in 2013/14, Helmsley was one of the 20 or so settlements in Ryedale that sent 52.7% of their waste for reuse, nearly 9 percent higher than the national average! Whilst the area has not reached such dizzy heights since, the District Council has consistently performed above the national average for each year after.

With just over 1,500 residents recorded in the government census, Helmsley has a reputation for being a quiet, peaceful place to live. Thanks to a thriving tourist trade, however, the town is regularly thronged with hikers and other visitors from the UK and further afield who spend their time and money in the many businesses the town is home to. Restaurants, pubs and shops alike see the benefits of the town’s perennial popularity, but unfortunately, this popularity does come at a price. Although council street cleaners try their best to keep the town looking its best, there are times when Helmsley looks a little worse for wear, thanks to the increased footfall. Thankfully, the town has a taskforce of local volunteers who donate their time on a regular basis to keep the streets of Helmsley looking their best. Helmsley Litter Pickers (HeLP) picked up more than 100 bags of litter in the last seven months of 2019 alone, showing the extent to which even such a small town can suffer from careless litterbugs. The team is supported by the Helmsley Town Council who pay for their insurance and hi-vis jackets.

The team from HeLP aren’t the only good-hearted residents of Helmsley though. After noticing that certain recycling bins were getting contaminated with other waste at the popular Cleveland Way Car Park, locals banded together to make a representation to the council for a new bin solely dedicated to Tetra Pak cartons. The new bin, installed in July 2019, prevents additional waste being thrown in and clearly states what forms of cartons are acceptable.