We want your views on the future of waste and recycling services
As part of our commitment to tackling the Climate Emergency, we are sharing our vision for dealing with recycling and waste in Kirklees and want your views.
Changes to your recycling collections
We’re asking you to tell us what you think about our ideas for changing how we all deal with our rubbish.
From proposals to bring back glass-recycling containers, to collecting more types of plastic in your green bin, we are demonstrating our commitment to making it easier for people to recycle.
Reducing and reusing is also important
We also want you to think about how you can contribute. Whether that is by reducing the amount of waste you create or treating the materials that you no longer need as something useful rather than rubbish. Our vision for Zero Waste to Landfill sets out a whole range of ideas for how we can all get involved in the future.
We would love it if you would read our ‘journey of a yoghurt pot’ and ‘food waste story’ which together help to explain why we need to reduce what we buy, and also ask some interesting questions about what is the best way to deal with our waste materials.
Cllr Naheed Mather, Cabinet Member for Greener Kirklees, said:
“Our vision is a clean, green, sustainable future for Kirklees with zero waste to landfill.”
“We are committed to tackling the climate emergency, and one of the biggest impacts on the climate comes from the way we handle the waste we produce.“This means that we need to consider everything from reducing the amount of rubbish that we create, to finding ways to reuse and recycle materials. This will result in using less energy processing raw materials, and reduce the amount of carbon produced in the disposal process.
“We want Kirklees to be a place where waste is valued as a resource through re-use, recycling and recovery. To achieve this, we all need to take responsibility for the waste we generate and make the best decisions on what to do with it.
“To help us make the right decisions, we need your views. I’d like to encourage you to get involved in the virtual consultation to help shape the future of waste in Kirklees.”
Cllr Rob Walker, Cabinet Member for Environment said:
“We know most people will be excited about the opportunity to recycle more at kerbside in future, but you might also have concerns about what that means for you. We’ve set up a website with lots of information, and a virtual room where you can see what the different scenarios might look like at your home. Once you’ve checked out the materials please take a moment to complete our survey and let us know what you think – your views really are important.”
How can I get involved?
Visit the Waste Strategy website from 3 pm on Thursday 29 October 2020 until 6 December 2020 to learn more and share your views.
I am immensely relieved to see this item in ‘Kirklees Together’. Given that this is the biggest crisis humankind has ever faced, I believe that it is critical for Kirklees Council to take the opportunity to influence people’s behaviour and encourage everybody to reduce consumption, to re-use and recycle, to repair, to use less stuff, and to treat the planet like it’s precious. So I am relieved, as I say, to see this item. It is clear that recycling is a very important issue. I also agree with Mike Parkin about waste reduction. Personally, I believe that recycling is primarily a way to make people feel better about consuming more. We need to consume less and we need to reduce waste. I am not denying, however, that we need to recycle the waste that we produce.
I believe that the council has a responsibility to lead the way and to demand that local retailers and manufacturers behave in a responsible manner with regard to waste. Could we, perhaps, offer incentives, such as lower business rates, to responsible retailers?
Although I am not sure why people cannot take glass to bottle banks, given that many seem to be perfectly capable of bringing it home from the supermarket, I agree that glass collection would probably be a good idea. I believe that education about what can go in the green bin is important, and I’d also be grateful if compostable waste could be collected, as I live in a flat and have no compost heap. However, these are just details and I believe that the most important thing is for the Council to be seen to be treating the climate emergency as an emergency and to be leading the way by taking bold actions.
I am disappointed with the survey questions they clearly show how far behind other councils Kirklees are, so please stop procrastinating on this matter and start recycling more items. I know it is not easy as some items are difficult to recycle, start taking the lead and forcing companies as well as residents to be more environmentally aware. Also start cracking down on Fly tipping, otherwise your policies will only increase It.
I no longer drive my husband use to take waste to our tip on foot. This was stopped on safety reasons. So I find it hard to believe Kirklees are really concerned with improving their recycling performance. As others have mentioned they stopped collecting glass, they stopped collecting garden materials, they stopped collecting furniture for free. Also too many restrictions on what you can take to your local tip. You may say these are all negative comments, but Kirklees could easily make these into positives by reversing these restrictions and reverting back to the service they use to provide for free. I am sure the cost of clearing up fly tipping would be off set if these services came back for free.
I am immensely relieved to see this item in ‘Kirklees Together’. From the type of information generally visible on the intranet, I that our council has never heard of the climate emergency. I am actually aware that there is a lot of important work being done within Kirklees but I am unable to understand why there is so little mention of it on the intranet. To me, it usually seems to be all about Covid-19, monthly pay and the occasional high five. Given that this is the biggest crisis humankind has ever faced, I feel that an opportunity is being missed to influence people’s behaviour and encourage everybody to reduce consumption, re-use and recycle and treat the planet like it’s precious. So I am relieved, as I say, to see this item.
I agree with Mike Parkin about waste reduction. I have heard it said, by someone who recently studied for a PhD, on the subject of Waste, at Huddersfield University, that recycling is just a way to make people feel better about consuming more. We need to consume less and we need to reduce waste. I believe that the council has a responsibility to lead the way and to demand that local retailers and manufacturers behave in a responsible manner with regard to waste, at the very least. We need to champion low consumption.
Although I am not sure why people cannot take glass to bottle banks, given that many seem to be perfectly capable of bringing it home from the supermarket, I agree that glass collection would probably be a good idea. I believe that education about what can go in the green bin is also important. For example, I heard that we don’t recycle Tetra Paks. Is this actually the case? I’d be grateful if compostable waste could be collected, because I live in a flat and have no compost heap. However, these are just details and I believe that the most important thing is for the Council to be seen to be treating the climate emergency as an actual emergency and to be leading the way in tackling it. We have a single decade to act – that’s what Greenpeace says.
Bring back glass collections and collect all items marked recyclable, do not be so restricted about what we can put in our green bins. Make it easier to dispose of waste at tips such as no steps at Howden Clough so disabled people can use the site safely. Also take all sorts of waste at each site so we do not have to drive long distances to tips for some types of waste and do not limit how much waste we can take. This would reduce pollution and make fly tipping less common.
Bring back glass recycling that is a big help also bags for food waste
Hi Nibor, you can recycle aluminium and steel tins and cans in your green recycling bin. Thanks ^EMT
Mr Mirfiled We have always found the staff at Meltham tip really helpful and certainly not lazy Need to be able to recycle more plastic either with a separate bin or in the green bin
Although the push to recycle more is welcome and not to be dismissed as not being a step forward in reducing land fill. I firmly believe as a house holder and resident of Kirklees for over 40 years that a more efficient and actionable measure to reduce the amount of waste would be to bring pressure on the producers of the majority of “ Plastic and un-recyleble Packaging waste namely supermarkets and retailers in the Councils region. My bins are filled mainly with discarded single use and mixed component packaging from the supermarkets. Be bold and make a decisive vanguard move on behalf of your residents and ban all plastic none essential plastic packaging of food stuffs. Encourage the regions major retailers to use glass and reusable containers. Food waste bins that sit inside / nest in the main grey bin and a return of the glass container or, where possible communal containers I believe would be a step forward. Make it easier and free for households to take diy building waste and larger items to their local collection point instead of restricting the types of waste accepted. This I believe would potentially encourage those responsible for fly tipping, to not do it.
Why was the glass box collection stopped ?,due to lack of funding perhaps.
most people have transport and go to the supermarket where there are bottle banks . Would this save money that could go to more urgent issues ?.
Have to agree there are plenty of other councils who recycle more plastics, without multiple bins , we keep been told to be more green recycling wise .
Is it possible for Kirklees to reprint the leaflets explaining what is allowed in green bins ,could they be sent out with council tax bills or be available direct from the bin collection team .
Please ensure that there are recycling facilities at all kirklees owned sites, and please keep emptying them regularly. Please NEVER allow waste that has been separated out for recycling go into general landfill.
The return of glass bottle collections would be a welcome service. What is the current position on aluminium recycling – can you recycle it?
Bring back the glass collection and allow more items to be put in the green bin.
My suggestion is that you consult the East Riding of Yorkshire Council and where possible adopt the excellent recycling services/operations carried out in their area.
Kirklees recycling centres should accept a much greater variety of items and should have longer opening hours, to try and reduce the amount of fly tipping.
Kirklees council have far too many rules and it’s no wonder fly tipping is so bad in our area. Polystyrene doesn’t get taken in the grey bin or the green so you have to take it to the tip. Bins aren’t emptied fully and returned half full, lids have to shut otherwise the bin isn’t taken. All green waste is burnt and it’s consistently one of the worst councils in the uk for recycling. Glass isn’t taken when it once was, charge for brown bins for garden waste which is free for other councils – I’m surprised they don’t weigh bins and charge per kilo.
Something should be done about bringing back hardcore/soil collection, too many times have a I seen tiles, plaster, stone/bricks etc. dumped in the hedgerows. I am sure a small ‘contactless’ fee on arrival at the tip would stop the even more expensive clear ups.
We need glass collections, free garden waste bins and allow more items in green bins. Kirklees are a disgrace compared to neighbouring authorities where recycling is concerned.
Everything that we can do to protect our planet is in the interests of everyone, young and old.
I agree that we should have bottle banks available, this saves time and perhaps reduces the temptation to add glass where it is not required.
If we rinse tins and bottles before placing into the correct bins it will not only ensure a much cleaner sorting experience, but it will save money overall.
Tax the fast food/takeaways places to pay for cleaning the roads and streets of the litter from the customer’s that throw them out of the vehicles / drop them on the pavement
Why don’t you stop dithering, stop consulting and just do something! How can you spend so long consulting over a climate emergency?! Kirklees has been out of step with other councils for years. Stop finding reasons who you can’t accept items and explore what you can and encourage it’s collection. What can’t we have a West Yorkshire wide scheme that everyone understands and which can help achieve some economies of scale ?
Given that food packaging is not going to change anytime soon, recycling of plastic food trays, yoghurt pots, and aluminium food trays would be really useful
Try the meltham recycling centre, the staff are polite, helpful if you need a lift and always ready to have a word with you if they arn’t too busy. Try being polite with these employees, they are doing a difficult job in trying times.
You need to collect glass for recycling.
Bring back glass collection is a must and allow more things in the green Bin, also tthe stickers should be brought back that were placed on the Re-Cycling Bin so people were not confused as to what to put in , Not everyone has access to a smart phone or the Internet .
I have quite a distance to travel to get to my nearest Kirklees waste disposal site but there is one just down the road in Brighouse. It’s in Calderdale so I can’t use it. When we had West Yorkshire Council we could use any site. West York’s police covers all areas as does the Fire Service. Why not the waste sites? How green is it for me to have to make a ten mile return journey to drop something off at a Kirklees site.
You do not allow enough types of items into the green bin. Glass collection is also good. I must be honest, some other councils have many more recycling options which leads to lots of different containers. One I really don’t fancy is the cooked/ waste food one. 🙄
If people had a little respect for the staff, maybe they would be more polite.
Train the tip staff to be polite and not lazy. Try collect bins and leave where you find them.
Bring back glass collection.
Allow more things in the green bin.
It’s all very well saying you want to increase recycling but a couple of weeks ago, our recycling bins were not emptied and on a Saturday they came and emptied them and also did the grey rubbish bins in the same lorry!!! What was the point of us having a grey and green bin ?? Or the point of recycling if this happens!
I am willing to play my part in your waste strategy and bringing back bottle waste is a great start.