Residents react to council's bin shrinking plans

Kirklees Council revealed plans to replace household waste bins with smaller alternatives in an effort to save money earlier this week.

The local authority has proposed cutting the size of grey wheelie bins in the district by 25%.

The council has estimated the move could save more than £500,000 over two years and would encourage recycling.

But several residents in the village of Birkenshaw were unconvinced by the plan when the BBC canvassed opinions.

This week, more than 100 people have signed a petition calling for a U-turn on the plans, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Helen Kilner, who has lived in Birkenshaw for 20 years, said she thought switching the bins would be "unnecessary".

"I'd rather they were left as they are I don't see why they need to change them," she said.

"Depending on the size of your household, it may cause more of an issue to a larger family than it would do to us."

One woman, who did not want to give her name, said that the proposed change "won't trouble me because I live on my own".

But she added: "When we were a family of five I'd have needed it the size it is now, because there is a lot of waste comes with your shopping these days."

Several residents the BBC spoke to said they feared an increase in fly-tipping in the area as a result of the change, exacerbated by the recent closure of council's waste tip in nearby Birstall.

As a result of that, villagers in Birkenshaw now face journeys three times as long to get to their next nearest waste site, in Dewsbury.

Paul Benn said the smaller bins proposal had "come as a shock", adding that fly-tipping was already a major problem in the area.

"Our council tax is going up every year and we're getting less and less for it, and having to do more ourselves," he said.

"A lot of people won't travel to Dewsbury to dump their rubbish.

"I will because I have to, but there are some who won't."

One woman, who gave her name as Susan, raised similar concerns and queried the potential cost of having to replace the bins.

She said: "The council's going to have to shell out thousands to take away the old bins and pay for new bins.

"I'd guess it would cost a lot of money, which is worrying at a time they're closing local leisure centres and the tips."

Another resident named Carol, said she "certainly wouldn't be happy" about the grey bin shrinking.

"I'm not sure how they would save money," she said. "The capacity is probably just about right since we went to bi-weekly collections.

"I would struggle if they went to a smaller size, especially since the tip closed."

Another resident, who didn't want to be identified, said she would be content with the change, however, because of the amount she recycles.

She said: "It wouldn't bother me if it's just the grey one. It's never full, even after two weeks and even at Christmas. I don't put a right lot in there."

Councillor Munir Ahmed, cabinet member for environment, said residents' feedback would be taken on board before a decision was reached.

He said: "Managing waste costs the council millions every year, and for every tonne of waste we don't recycle, the council has to pay more.

"That's residents' money which we'd rather use to tackle fly-tipping and keeping our streets clean.

"Reducing the amount of waste we produce is also good for the environment and we're always looking for ways to make Kirklees a greener place."

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