Commercial Waste Management Selby

Selby is a town in North Yorkshire, 14 miles south of York on the River Ouse, with a population at the 2011 census of 14,731. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Selby once had a large shipbuilding industry and was an important port on the Selby Canal which brought trade from Leeds. The town originates from the establishment of a Viking settlement on the banks of the River Ouse.

Archaeological investigations in Selby have revealed extensive remains, including waterlogged deposits in the core of the town dating from the Roman period onwards. It’s also the birthplace of King Henry I, fourth son of William the Conqueror, and has a breathtaking mediaeval Abbey and a crumbling 15th century gatehouse. So it’s safe to say this town has some history.

Points of interest for those within the community include Selby Community Woodland, a peaceful accessible outdoor space opened in 2012 with trees, artwork and benches. Selby Wildlife Pond is another popular green space that locals enjoy spending time in and is conveniently close to the town centre. Selby Town Hall is also a boon to the community; in addition to live comedy and music, there’s a cinema with regular showings at affordable prices.

Selby District Council manages the household waste collections for Selby, as well as Brayton, Barlby Village, Derwent and many others. Approximately 82,000 people live in the entire Selby District Council area, with many living in relatively isolated rural locations. Recycling, composting and reusing rates in the area have been stable since 2015, holding at around 41%, just beneath the national average. This is a good improvement on recycling performance from 2007, when only 32.2% of all waste was being sent for recycling or reuse. Within three years of this, recycling rates had improved to an all time high of 43.3% and have gently plateaued to the level that they have been since 2015.

A handful of local community schemes have been established in order to reduce waste and to encourage residents to reuse, rather than make new purchases. The Community Furniture Store in Selby is a good example of an organisation with these values at their heart. The Store sells affordable used furniture that has been donated, as well as a selection of new electrical goods. In addition to accepting furniture donations, the store also operates a paint donation program. Locals can leave half full cans of paint at the shop, which can then be sold on for an affordable price to those who need it.