By KLTV Newsdesk –
Thousands of residents in Kirklees have given their views on how waste and recycling in the borough should be tackled.
Last year Kirklees Council announced that it would begin examining its waste strategy as part of its commitment to tackling the Climate Emergency.
Recently they held an online survey that covered all areas of waste across the borough, from assessing the current provision to reviewing possible changes to the service.
Over 7,000 residents shared their views, which the council says is the largest response they have ever received for consultation.
The council says they will now use the responses to inform future changes to how they collect and dispose of waste.
Survey Responses
According to the survey, when asked which items residents would most like to be able to recycle from home, the top three responses were glass, additional plastics, and food waste
Roughly 80 per cent of respondents said they were in favour of some form of kerbside glass and food collection, highlighting a desire for additional recycling facilities at home. Both an extra bin for glass and the option for a glass caddy inside the bin had support.
All in all, there was almost unanimous agreement that the collection and processing of waste should be done with as minimal a carbon footprint as possible.
The council says they will now assess the responses before preparing a report for Cabinet approval on the next stages.
‘Sustainable future for Kirklees’
Speaking on the survey responses, Councillor Naheed Mather, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “Our vision is a clean, green, sustainable future for Kirklees with zero waste to landfill.
“In the coming months, we will be speaking to our current waste provider SUEZ, about how they can help us deliver residents’ ambitions which we’ll set out in our new waste strategy.
“We are very grateful to the 7,212 residents who took the time to have their say about waste across Kirklees, your comments will be taken on board.
“Your feedback will help to shape our future waste strategy and help us to tackle the climate emergency.”
The councils’ ‘Zero Waste Kirklees’ strategy outline can be read on their website.
New Opportunities
Councillor Paul Davies, Cabinet Member for Greener Kirklees, said: “Thank you to everyone who took part in our waste strategy engagement.
“We know that many of you are keen to be able to recycle more at the kerbside but the reduction of waste is just as important.
“To help residents reduce what they throw away, we will be launching online food waste workshops and providing reuse opportunities at HWRCs by trialling a new reuse shop in Huddersfield.”