Refuse collectors will take excess waste for one week only if households are affected by Kirklees Council’s bin changes.

The pledge came as tens of thousands of people prepared for new bin collections across Huddersfield and the rest of Kirklees.

All households should have been notified of bin collection changes which come into force on September 7.

Letters have been sent to every household outlining the changes.

For some residents it means a change to the day of collection – for others it means a different colour bin will be collected next week.

But a number of residents have contacted the Examiner to complain that they face being left three to four weeks without a grey bin collection, and instead have back to back recycling collections using green bins.

Some residents could be left three to four weeks without a grey bin collection

A Kirklees Council spokesperson said: “The council are aware that due to the scale of the changes some households may go an extended period between grey or green bin collections.

“To accommodate this crews will collect excess waste, suitably bagged, for the first grey and green collection after the September 7 change.”

Sheila Hyde, of Beaumont Park, said she faced a four-week gap to her grey bin collection.

She said: “I phoned the department in Kirklees who deal with this matter. I pointed this out to the member of staff in question and was instructed to put out any extra bags at the side of the grey bin for collection.

“Not a good idea when they may contain food waste and in an area where there are urban foxes and other wildlife.”

Kirklees is making sweeping changes to bin rounds in a bid to save £500,000 and collections will take place Monday to Thursday only.

The changes are due to take effect from next week.