North Yorkshire incinerator performance questioned as landfill waste trebles

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 06:03 · Archive

Opposition councillors question whether North Yorkshire's waste incinerator is genuinely improving as landfill waste more than trebles.

Opposition councillors have questioned whether North Yorkshire's waste incinerator is genuinely improving or simply performing 'less badly' than before. Figures show that the amount of waste diverted from landfill at Allerton Waste Recovery Park, near Knaresborough, fell from 94.86 per cent in 2023/24 to 83.15 per cent in 2025/26. Over the same period, waste sent directly to landfill when the facility was unavailable more than trebled, rising from 14,190 tonnes to 46,576 tonnes.

Council officers say significant investment in repairs has resulted in substantial improvements in the plant's performance. However, Green councillor David Noland challenged whether the improvements represent genuine progress or simply a recovery from particularly poor performance. He said: 'Whilst the report is framed as though things are improving, it's actually unclear what's improved. Is Allerton actually performing well, or just less badly than before? Residents deserve to know what's actually happening to their waste and whether they're getting value for money.'

The facility has also failed to meet its contractual recycling target of five per cent in every year since it began operating in March 2018. In 2025/26, just 1.76 per cent of contract waste was recycled, compared with 1.78 per cent two years earlier. The figures are contained in a report to North Yorkshire Council's Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which meets on 21 October.

How it is being reported

• Incinerator performance questioned as landfill waste treblesOpposition councillors have questioned whether North Yorkshire's waste incinerator is genuinely improving.The Press (York) · 15 Oct, 05:00
• Incinerator performance questioned as landfill waste treblesOpposition councillors have questioned whether North Yorkshire's waste incinerator is genuinely improving.Gazette & Herald (Malton) · 15 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Allerton Waste Recovery Park · North Yorkshire Council · David Noland · Knaresborough · North Yorkshire

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