Community skip days could be put on in York if proposals to move to a booking system at the Hazel Court tip go ahead.
A City of York Council report stated the days would be brought in to help manage the transition to an online booking system for the tip, off James Street.
The authority’s head of environment services Ian Hoult told councillors officials could look at putting days on beyond the transition but it would impact on other services.
Proposals to introduce a limited number of half-hourly booking slots are among those made to tackle queues and congestion at the household waste and recycling centre.
The council’s report stated several residents and businesses nearby the tip had complained about the traffic and resulting delays spilling out into the wider area.
Businesses in Hazel Court and James Street have claimed it has affected trade due to customers being unable to reach them.
The report also stated residents had raised safety concerns over frustrated drivers making dangerous manoeuvres in the road due to the delays.
An online booking is system is the preferred option to deal with the queues.
A similar system was previously in place at the tip during the coronavirus pandemic.
Diverting commercial waste to the Towthorpe tip or restricting access to Hazel Court to York residents only have been put forward as alternatives.
The council’s place scrutiny committee heard on Tuesday (23 September) heard officials would ensure that any booking system would be fully accessible amid concerns for those without internet access.
The committee heard the council could also look at doing community skip days focused on green waste disposals if they are used beyond a transition to bookings.
Mr Hoult said officials would consider it depending on the level of demand.
The council introduced charges for green waste collections from August 2024, with a yearly charge set at £49 this year.
Councillors also heard the system would aim to smooth out the number of visits to the tip, though moving to a new location remained a longer term ambition.
Mr Hoult said visits to the tip tended to peak between 10am and 2.30pm and dropped off after the school run period in the evening.
Hazel Court and Towthorpe have been closed on Wednesdays since May 2024, saving around £70,000.
The council’s Labour administration’s environment spokesperson Cllr Jenny Kent said a booking system was not foolproof but Mr Hoult said they already had experience of running one during the pandemic.
