Plan to shrink bins in Kirklees scrapped after public backlash
Every single grey bin would have been replaced with one a quarter smaller
Labour’s move to scrap controversial bin replacement plans in Kirklees has been branded a “victory for common sense”.
Under the plans set out in the council’s draft budget, every single grey bin across the borough would be replaced by an alternative, three quarters of the size. Though the move was forecast to save £0.5m per year from the second year of implementation, it came with a £4.4m price tag and prompted major backlash from the public and elected members.
On Monday, December 16, Kirklees Council’s Labour Group took to Facebook, explaining they would be asking for the proposal to be removed from the final version of the council budget in January. They expressed concern that the plan “would not achieve the savings suggested, or the recycling rate improvements we would all like to see, without other significant service changes.”
The Community Alliance Group, which set up a petition against the plans, described the move as a “victory for common sense”. They said: “Kirklees Cabinet have performed a major U-turn on bin reduction plan amid public backlashes.
“The Kirklees Cabinet has made an embarrassing climbdown, scrapping their proposal to reduce household bin sizes by 25 per cent following widespread public outrage. In a startling attempt to deflect blame, the Cabinet has pointed the finger at council officers for putting forward the idea. However, as the elected body responsible for running the administration and holding officers to account, the Cabinet cannot shirk responsibility for proposals that they signed off.
“This ill-thought-out plan, buried within the council’s budget proposals, was a Cabinet-endorsed policy. Their role as decision-makers makes it clear, they should never have allowed such an unworkable and unpopular idea to reach the public domain in the first place.
“The Community Alliance would like to extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who signed our petition against this daft idea. Your voices made it impossible for the Cabinet to ignore the strength of public opposition. This is a powerful reminder that public pressure works, and when communities stand together, they can influence the decisions that affect their lives. The petition will be kept open until the proposal has been officially removed from future budget proposals.
“Kirklees residents deserve a council that listens to them from the outset, rather than having to be forced into a U-turn after public outrage. Let this serve as a lesson to the Cabinet: your role is to lead, scrutinise, and advocate for the community – not to pass the buck when things go wrong.
Dewsbury West Independent councillors, Cllr Tanisha Bramwell and Cllr Ammar Anwar said: “In response to significant public backlash regarding the proposed reduction of bins across Kirklees, the Labour council cabinet has acknowledged that this plan would neither yield the anticipated savings nor be effective.
“It has become clear that both councillors and residents stand in opposition to these measures, with Labour MPs also voicing their dissent. This proposal raises concerns about the competence of elected officials who are managing portfolios in areas where they may lack the necessary experience and expertise, which is both troubling and potentially detrimental.
“Consequently, the council intends to advocate for the removal of this proposal from the final budget, which will be presented to Kirklees Council in January. This budget will subsequently be subject to a vote for approval by all parties involved, highlighting the need for a thorough reassessment of the proposal prior to its inclusion in the official budget.
“Cllr Anwar and I welcome this reversal; however, the pressing question remains: why should our residents continue to bear the physical, mental, and financial burdens of the council’s missteps?”