A union says jobs will be lost and council taxpayers will pay more for a reduced service after cuts to household waste recycling centres in Kirklees.
Kirklees Council has announced that the Nab Lane tip site in Birstall will close this autumn and both Meltham and Upper Cumberworth tips will only open five days a week instead of seven.
The union Unite has expressed “significant concerns” about the impact on workers and local residents.
It says the cuts are an attempt to claw back some of the extra money that Kirklees pays to waste contract partner SUEZ.
In 2021 the council signed a new interim waste contract with SUEZ which, the union claims, “boosted SUEZ’s annual revenues by millions.”
Dan Stephens, regional officer for Unite, said: “These proposed cuts to essential waste services, including the closure of Nab Lane HWRC, are deeply concerning.
“While SUEZ is making vast profits, local residents are being asked to accept fewer services, longer queues and potentially increased instances of fly-tipping.
“With a 5% increase to council tax this year, 2.99% going to local services, it is unacceptable that Kirklees residents are paying more for less.”
The union warns that losing Nab Lane would put pressure on other sites, such as Dewsbury, and would mean longer travel times, more queues and congestion and a greater risk of illegal dumping.
Mr Stephens added: “The council’s decision to prioritise a contract with a private company and short-term quick fix cuts over the needs of its residents and workers is short-sighted.
“This is not just about money, it’s about the well-being of our community, environment and the workers.”
The union says short-term cuts could backfire with higher clean-up costs from fly-tipping and an additional strain on remaining services.
“The council must consider more sustainable solutions that could even generate net profits, such as renegotiating contracts or bringing services back in-house, rather than resorting to short-sighted cuts that may do more harm than good,” said Mr Stephens.
An online petition against the closure of Nab Lane tip has been set up by Birstall Tory councillor Josh Sheard and already has more than 3,000 signatures.
If Birstall closes there will only be one waste site in North Kirklees – Weaving Lane in Dewsbury – and there is a question mark over that as it may have to be moved a short distance to accommodate railway works as part of the TransPennine Route Upgrade.
In a statement Mark Ryan, contract manager at SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, said: “As a responsible employer, reducing staffing levels is not something SUEZ takes lightly.
“However, following the decision agreed with Kirklees Council to close Nab Lane Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) and reduce the operating hours at two of the other four HWRCs in the area, formal consultation discussions with all affected staff have begun with regards to their employment.
“We will continue to work with Unite to ensure that this process is managed in the best interests of all parties, protecting the best interests of our staff, while also maintaining the integrity of the service we currently provide.”
SUEZ pointed out that the new interim contract wasn’t like-for-like and included the recycling of more items, namely plastic pots, tubs and trays.
SUEZ operates the Kirklees energy-from-waste facility, a materials recycling centre, two waste transfer stations, five HWRCs and manages two closed landfill sites on behalf of the council.
Clr Munir Ahmed, Kirklees Council’s Cabinet member for environment and highways, said: “Concerns around an increase in fly-tipping have been considered with the majority of cases across the district relating to commercial waste.
“However, the council has a zero tolerance approach to fly-tipping and any impact following the closure of Nab Lane HWRC will be closely monitored and action taken where appropriate.
“Weaving Lane HWRC, Dewsbury, remains open seven days a week and is located just over five miles from Nab Lane.
“Negotiations are currently under way with Network Rail in relocating the HWRC, like for like, to land next to the existing site to accommodate works in relation to upgrades to the rail network as part of the TransPennine Route Upgrade.
“Dates are yet to be confirmed but it’s unlikely there will be any disruption to the HWRC facility.
“The review of the Household Waste Recycling Centres is one of many cost saving measures being implemented across the council, as set out in the annual budget at the beginning of the year.”
Under the plans Bent Ley Road in Meltham will open Wednesday to Sunday while Bromley Farm in Upper Cumberworth will open Friday to Tuesday.
The petition can be found HERE.
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