Currently in York, waste is collected every week alternating between general domestic waste and a collection of paper/card, plastic/cans, foil, and glass. Food waste is disposed of alongside general domestic waste in the large wheelie bins. This means York residents, and students, have to store decomposing food waste on their property for two weeks, and that rats have ample time and encouragement to raid their wheelie bins.
Why does York Council only collect food waste fortnightly?
The most likely answer is cost. In recent years, councils have faced funding cutbacks and have had to limit their spending. A separate food waste collection would require new vehicles and potentially a larger waste collection staff.
This decision goes against the advice of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), which states that frequent bin collections would help reduce the likelihood of rat infestations.
These cutbacks to councils have further affected rat populations in York, with the Council ending the operation of their pest control service in 2015 due to lack of funding.
The impact on students in York
Through a Freedom of Information request, I found that since 2020 the Council has received 103 reports of rats, with 64 of these occurring in the last two years. This demonstrates an increase in reports and suggests a rise in the rat population.
It is also likely that the number of reports to the Council do not fully reflect the reality of rat infestations with some opting for private pest control, some being unaware of the infestation and others not taking any steps to manage the issue.
The rise has been felt by students in York. I spoke with two students at the University of York about their personal experience with rats. Both students live together and rent a property from a student letting agency.
When asked whether they had encountered a rat in their time at York, both students reported seeing rats “frequently.” The first student explained: “I’ve seen them on a few nights out around town and occasionally I’ll see them on our garden wall. I see them more frequently at the house than in town though. I think this is partly due to our house backing onto a bit of wooded path and because there’s so much food and so many places for them to hide.”
The students described one particular incident where a rat managed to chew its way into their general waste bin. The first student recounted: “We’ve also had a rat get into our bin, which had a massive hole in it and chew marks all around the rim of it.”
Their experiences demonstrate how the rising rat population is affecting this student household and likely others, with this property serving as an example of how rats can enter residential spaces.
“This is a problem that would not exist if the system of waste disposal was more efficient, and a problem that should especially not be the responsibility of young tenants.”
I asked the students whether they thought York’s waste collection system encouraged rats.
The second student expressed frustration, saying: “I feel the lax collection of food waste and the pile-up of waste at points within the city does certainly encourage rats, it cultivates an environment that attracts them to properties, leaving them an issue for tenants to live with.”
The first student offered a slightly different perspective, showing some support for the collection system: “having food waste mixed with general makes it harder for them to actually get the food.” However, they also pointed out that they “live in a built up area at home without food collection bins and have only seen rats once or twice, never in the same scale as they have in York.”
This contrast highlights the student’s belief that York’s rat problem may be exacerbated by local infrastructure.
I then spoke with the students about the discontinuation of the Council’s pest control service. Both students agreed that the decision was a mistake. The first student remarked: “the rats are definitely a York wide issue, they’re everywhere.” The second added: “It leaves the tenants to deal with a problem that would not be theirs to deal with if bin collection was more efficient and sanitary.”
When asked about the reported increase in rat complaints to the Council over the last four years, the first student commented: “If you’re not providing pest control then they will just keep coming back and increasing in number.”
I also asked whether they would be open to a separate food waste bin if it were introduced. Both students agreed, the second saying they “would be appreciative of a system like this being introduced.” The first emphasised that collection would need to be frequent enough to prevent bins becoming “a feeding station” for rats.
The students’ willingness to adapt to changes, alongside their criticisms of the current system, underscores their desire for improved council support. Both strongly felt that the discontinuation of the pest control service had left tenants to manage a problem that otherwise could be mitigated through better infrastructure and services.
“There’s the worry that landlords will just take advantage and will find a way to charge.”
To conclude the interview, I asked if there was anything else about their experience they wanted to share. The first student responded: “It feels like there is nothing you can really do about it, especially as a student. There is little to no guidance on who to go to about it. There’s the worry that landlords will just take advantage and will find a way to charge and houses are such a state I think most of them wouldn’t care less anyway unless they could make a bit of cash off it. I think if the council aren’t willing to do pest control also then it’s just something we’re expected to live with.”
The second expressed their frustrations with both landlords and the Council: “Given that York is a city with high student population, I think it is an even bigger disgrace that young people facing below quality average housing to begin with, have to deal with pest infestations on their own with minimal help from both landlords and the council. This is a problem that would not exist if the system of waste disposal was more efficient, and a problem that should especially not be the responsibility of young tenants. Furthermore, the appearance of rats in the ceilings of properties indicates rat waste being in the roofs of properties, which is a further hazard to health and hygiene that students are physically unable to deal with and could be handled by the council.”
The details shared by the interviewees demonstrate how the rat population affected them as York students, emphasising their concerns about the lack of support from the Council and Landlords.
What support exists for York residents facing a rat problem?
The Council provides lots of advice that may aid residents, this can be found here. For problems resulting from waste, this advice includes:
- Not putting waste out too early
- Keeping your bin lid firmly closed
- Tying up rubbish bags securely
- Wrapping all perishables
- Storing your bin out of direct sunlight
- Cleaning out plastic bottles and cans for recycling to minimise smells
For some households, particularly those without enclosed bin storage, avoiding putting waste out too early may be unfeasible as it is impractical to keep food waste indoors for two weeks.
In some instances, the council has been able to provide further support. Through Freedom of Information request, I found that since 2020:
- In 34% of cases reported to the Council, the Council worked with the landlord/owner of the property to remove rat infestation.
- In 3% of cases reported to the Council, the Council issued Service of Prevention of Damage by Pests Act Notice
- In less than 1% of cases reported to the Council, the Council aided clear up and removal of infestation
However, in over 20% of cases reported to the Council, only general advice was provided.
The support from the Council, therefore, is limited with the problem in lots of cases falling on residents to deal with.
What are the next steps?
Upcoming changes to government policy may compel the Council to take action. A nationwide policy will implement a requirement for weekly food waste collection by 31st March 2026. However some councils may receive exemptions and it is unclear whether the policy will apply to York.
For now, York residents – including students – continue to face the consequences of infrequent food waste collection and limited pest control support.
Comment from City of York Council:
I reached out to the Council for reply and James Gilchrist, Director of Transport, Environment and Planning responded:
“The council takes numerous steps to prevent pests, such as carrying out inspections, taking action to clear affected areas if needed and enforcing duties on owners and occupiers of private land to help prevent infestations. These steps are important to avoid nuisance and health risks.
“The council will also be introducing a further phase of the ‘bags to bins’ scheme later this year, which will further reduce the number of bagged waste collections in the city.
“We also offer advice to residents to help avoid and limit the problem. This advice includes ensuring all household waste is bagged securely and that there is no food waste in recycling boxes. More information is available at: www.york.gov.uk/pest-control/pest-control-advice.”