All Calderdale tips to close for two days a week
The council has waste and recycling centres at Halifax, Brighouse, Todmorden, Sowerby Bridge and Elland
All Calderdale tips will close for two days a week – though not on the same two days – reprieving Elland’s from full closure in the process, senior councillors have agreed.
Calderdale Council ruling Labour Cabinet members heard incoming changes when the council’s current contract with the company Suez ends mean the authority not only does not have to look at closing Elland but also a second tip of the five in the borough.
The council has waste and recycling centres at Halifax, Brighouse, Todmorden, Sowerby Bridge and Elland, and last year initial budget proposals were to close the latter.
After protests from residents and councillors the plans were put on ice also pending results from introducing a permit scheme to ensure only Calderdale residents can use the tips, which has been successful.
Proposing the two-day-a-week closure option for adoption, supported by Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors, Cabinet member for Resources, Coun Silvia Dacre (Lab, Todmorden).
After the current contract with Suez ends on July 31, 2026, the council, in joint partnership with the Norse group, will run the services.
Coun Dacre said: “An unexpected and welcome indication from that is that under the joint venture we are told we can make full year savings of £300,000 by closing each of the household waste and recycling centres on two days per week, not including weekends.”
These savings would not have been possible using the same proposal under the current contract, she said.
The decision took into account that the savings would not be available until the joint venture came into being in 2026, said Coun Dacre.
“We’ve taken a policy decision that we will adopt the option of closing each centre on two days per week.
“It also means we don’t have to also consider closing a second site in the budget for 2025-26,” she said.
Coun Danielle Durrans (Lab, Ovenden) said staff were very well informed about waste and when demand to use each site was lowest.
This meant not all tips would not be closed on the same weekdays – an alternative would always be open.
“They’ve been able to target the days that are most sensible to close,” she said.
Coun Diana Tremayne (Lab, Todmorden) said: “People who do have concerns, I think can be reassured that (closures) will be made according to the best figures that we have.”
Regarding the permits, Leader of the Council, Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot) said they were working – anecdotal evidence showed, for example, people arriving from neighbouring Kirklees arriving at a Calderdale tip being turned away.
It was important because extra waste cost the council to get rid of – £130 per tonne to landfill – so ensuring it was only Calderdale residents’ waste being disposed of saved the council money to help balance its books.