Conservatives in Kirklees have criticised the Labour cabinet’s decision to end glass recycling kerbside collections, describing it as a ‘backward step’.

At the full council meeting this Wednesday (16 January), Tory leader Cllr Robert Light, will table a motion calling for a new recycling plan.

Conservative Councillors Robert Light, David Hall and Nigel Patrick wrote the motion, which says: ‘This Council condemns the Cabinet for its decision to withdraw household glass collections and recognises that this will reduce the amount of glass recycled, contaminate other recycling, and in the long term cost the Council more money than it will save.

‘This Council therefore calls on the Cabinet by the end of April 2013 to draw up a new recycling plan for Kirklees which maintains fortnightly waste collections and enhances household recycling, including glass.’

Speaking to Resource, Councillor Nigel Patrick commented: “The motion for Wednesday covers all recycling, because we’re concerned that not enough recycling is being done, and that a large proportion of the stuff that the residents of Kirklees think is being recycled is actually finding its way to the incinerator. They’ve already made this decision to axe glass, which they’re not going to go back on. But what we’re saying is this has raised the issue about recycling in Kirklees and they need to look forward.’

Patrick said that the effect on glass recycling will be "very negative". He added: “It’s actually going to go through the incinerator. If you don’t take it to the bring site you’ve got to put it in a grey bin. Glass doesn’t burn, and then it will end up in landfill. It’s just a total loss.”

Labour deputy leader David Sheard said that every option had been considered before the decision was made to cut glass collections, and that there was no affordable alternative. The possibility of turning to the private sector was explored, but it was found that this would cost the council over £400,000.

The council hopes that the decision, which was introduced in December 2012, will save them £468,000 by 2014. Following the announcement, cabinet members agreed to set up more glass recycling sites in the area, to encourage people to take glass for recycling themselves.

Commenting on the reaction from local residents, Patrick noted: “They’re not happy about it. Ninety-five per cent of the population in Kirklees is in the urban areas and those people will have bring sites close to them, but the rural communities have quite a long way to take them and people won’t do that.”

He added: “The council’s got to make savings, nobody argues that. It’s just the way they do it.”