THE big drive to encourage more recycling across Kirklees is under way.
The council has started its project to operate an alternate weekly collection scheme for grey bins and green bins, aimed at reducing waste for landfill sites.
Residents in the first phase of plans to boost household waste recycling will be getting information packs over the next few days explaining and promoting the scheme.
From next month most householders in Clayton West, Denby Dale, Scissett, Skelmanthorpe, Shelley, Shepley, Kirkburton, Emley, Flockton, Dalton, Rawthorpe and Kirkheaton will have their green recycling bins emptied every fortnight instead of monthly.
Grey bins for other rubbish will be emptied on alternate weeks to fit in with the improved recycling service.
Containers for glass bottles and jars will be collected once every four weeks. Householders in these areas not receiving an information pack by the end of July will come on to the new scheme at a later date.
Following the successful pilot scheme in Almondbury which has been running since July last year, the Council’s Cabinet has agreed a timetable to roll out the recycling plan across the whole district.
The next stage of the scheme is the improved green bin collection frequency for paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and metal cans, and the alternate week collection of grey bins, as well as a scheme to give those households who cannot take part in the current kerbside recycling collections the chance to do so, and further expansion of the kerbside glass collection scheme.
Improved free garden waste collections from households and promotion of home composting are already in place across the district.
Implementation of the scheme will improve the environmental performance of Kirklees by increasing recycling, composting and diverting waste away from expensive landfill.
During the implementation of the new Recycling Plan the Council will have recycling and waste advisors working with the refuse collection crews to help householders with the change and to deal with any problems as they arise.
Clr Martyn Bolt, Cabinet member for the environment, said: “The timetable for rolling out the scheme has been planned to allow us to spend a lot of time in each area to give advice and information to the public.
“The success of the pilot scheme, which covers 5,000 households, was that we ran a ‘hearts and mind’ campaign.
“We made sure everyone knew how the scheme worked and officers visited people who had concerns to advise and assist them. The same will apply as the scheme is expanded across the district.
“There has been a lot of publicity nationally on this issue, and lot of misinformation about household waste recycling.
“What people need to know is that 50% of household waste is suitable for recycling.
“We cannot do it without householders’ support.
“The fact we have a good record on recycling, and in meeting Government targets, demonstrates people are behind us in our commitment to increase all aspects of recycling.”
The scheme will be expanded over the next three years to all areas of Kirklees.
