Shakeup of bin collections in Kirklees could see introduction of glass and food waste collections
The government is asking councils across England to standardise the waste and recycling they collect from homes.
“Once in a generation” improvements are on the way for Kirklees waste collections from 2028, the council says, with glass and food collections set to become regular services.
At a meeting this week, councillors heard about plans for a major shake up of waste and recycling services for residents under the government’s Simpler Recycling initiative. The government is asking councils across England to standardise the waste and recycling they collect from homes.
Currently, different councils collect different kinds of recycling from households but under the new programme, recycling services will be similar regardless of where you live in England. For residents in Kirklees, the changes will mean new collections of glass and waste food on top of the recycling service for paper, card, metals and plastics which residents already receive fortnightly.
The scheme will see councils collect:
Residual waste – non-recyclable waste that cannot be composted or recycled
Dry recyclable materials – plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays, tins, cans, bottles, tetra pack, glass, films and foils
Paper and card – newspapers, magazines, cardboard boxes and other paper products
Food waste – all food waste including leftovers, peelings and inedible parts like bones and eggshells
The change is officially being rolled out across England from 2026 but with Kirklees Council being tied into a waste contract with SUEZ until 2028, it has been given some extra time.
The local authority says that the improvements will require major changes to the way bin collections work in Kirklees with new bins, equipment and infrastructure needed to deliver the service. Homes are expected to have a minimum of three wheelie bins and a 23 litre caddy.
The council says the next two years will be spent planning and engaging with residents across Kirklees to make sure the changes work for them.
Councillor Tyler Hawkins, Cabinet Member for Highways and Waste, said: “Over the next couple of years, Kirklees will become cleaner and greener with extra recycling options for residents and a better service at your doorstep.
“The government’s Simpler Recycling plan gives us the opportunity to make a once-in-a-generation improvement to the service for all households in Kirklees.
“These are big changes so we need to plan them carefully to get the new service right for residents. We will also need to invest in new equipment and infrastructure to make sure the new services work well for everyone. That’s why we will take our time and engage with communities.
“While we plan these improvements for the future, we need to make sure we’re getting the basics right in the current service. That means extra resources and action on fly-tipping and improving customer services for everyone who uses our bin collection service. I’m looking forward to reporting on progress in September.”