Resources and Waste Strategy 2021-2030
Due to a high level of uncertainty from Central government around the legislation and funding of the initiatives in their resources strategy, coupled with the level of economic uncertainty we are facing globally, this has forced us as a council to review and re-prioritise the initiatives and targets we originally set out in our strategy. We will be reviewing this on a yearly basis and each year setting out a 12-month pledge of the initiatives we will deliver over the following year as well as our aspirations for the next five years.
Introduction
In 2019 we declared a climate emergency and published our vision of a clean, green, sustainable future for Kirklees with zero waste to landfill. We aim to make Kirklees completely carbon neutral by 2038.
We are working in partnership with residents, not just delivering services to them, everyone in Kirklees has a part to play so that we can achieve our vision. The first stage of this partnership was the public consultation to aid in the development of our waste strategy, but it doesn't end there. Moving forward, we will continue to work with residents from across the borough through various initiatives.
The development of the waste strategy plays a huge part in our vision. Kirklees will be a place where waste is valued as a resource through re-use, recycling, and recovery. To achieve this, we all need to take responsibility for the waste we generate and make the best decisions on what to do with it.
Key to these outcomes have been our decisions to:
- Engage with residents, businesses and communities in a way that works for them, using a place-based approach which is engaging, straightforward and visible.
- Achieve a recycling rate of at least 70% at our Household Waste and Recycling Centres by 2030.
- Recycle at least 65% of municipal waste by 2035.
- Achieve a 95% diversion from landfill rate by 2030 (new).
- Reuse or recycle as much of the resources collected via our bulky waste collections as possible.
- Ensure that the environment across the district delivers our vision of a clean, green, sustainable future for Kirklees.
- Lead by example and set a precedent of good practice to reduce waste, reuse materials, and increase recycling.
Our vision
Our overall vision for Kirklees is to be a district that combines a strong, sustainable economy with a great quality of life - leading to thriving communities, growing businesses, high prosperity, and low inequality where people enjoy better health throughout their lives.
One of our shared outcomes to achieve our vision, is that people in Kirklees experience a high quality, clean and green environment. Our built and natural environment contributes to people's quality of life and makes the district a more attractive place in which to live and invest.
We want to connect people and places, improve air quality and be resilient in the face of extreme weather, as well as helping people reduce waste and recycle more.
Tied into our corporate vision and outcomes, our vision for waste management is:
"a clean, green, sustainable future for Kirklees with zero waste to landfill and where waste is valued as a resource through re-use, recycling, and recovery."
Kirklees' ambition is to be at the forefront of the national drive towards tackling climate change, eliminating waste and valuing resources by empowering our residents to live sustainably. As a council, we will enable our residents and businesses to reduce, reuse, and recycle their waste. For us to achieve this, we will need to work together and take ownership and responsibility for the waste we generate and make more sustainable decisions on what we do with it.
We shared our vision with the people of Kirklees in 2020 and this strategy sets out our pathway to a zero-waste future, based on the views and ambitions shared with us by our communities.
Our ambitions: How we will achieve zero waste to landfill
Reduce
Minimise waste through:
- Thorough engagement with residents and businesses
- Education in schools, colleges and universities
- Promoting a circular economy.
Reuse
Promote the reuse of items through:
- Workshops
- A reuse shop
- Partnering with charities
- Composting.
Recycle
Increase recycling through:
- Increased kerbside collections (glass, plastics and food)
- More materials at household waste recycling centres
- Offering recycling collections to businesses
- Improving litter recycling.
Our 12 month and 5 year pledges
Within the 12 months up to December 2024 we will deliver:
- Reuse and Repair Workshops
- New Residents Welcome Pack
- Community Grant Scheme
- Recycling Roadshow
- Improved Litter Bin Provision
- Vape Collection Points
- Borrow Bank Scheme
- Improved 'Bring Bank' Hubs
- Reusable Nappy Scheme
- Expanded Reuse Shop Donation Points
Our aspirations for the following 5 years are:
- Huddersfield District Energy Network
- Charity Bulky Reuse Scheme
- Scrap Store
- Catering Food Waste Recycling
- Pop-up recycling scheme
- Period Dignity Scheme
- Review of Council-owned Facilities
- Improved HWRC Facilities
- Additional Kerbside Materials Collection
- Save Food Resource Packs