Bradford Council has confirmed it is “exploring” the potential reopening of at least one of its recently closed civic tips following a public backlash.
The move forms part of a wider review of recycling services across the district, which was confirmed during Wednesday night’s full council meeting at Bradford City Hall.
Councillors questioned the Reform UK-led authority’s executive over long queues and reduced hours at Keighley and other recycling centres, as well as concerns about fly-tipping, and urged a rethink.
Ian Walker, the council’s spokesperson for neighbourhoods and communities, said: “I can confirm that we are looking at various options regarding all of the household waste sites.”
In a written response to questions, Walker also said the council had approved the use of almost £6m of special funding for improving recycling performance to “develop a range of business cases aimed at enhancing waste services and increasing recycling rates”.
He said this work would include consideration of “improvements to the district’s five existing Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs), as well as exploring the potential reopening of Sugden End HWRC“.
However, he stressed in his written response that: “In relation to fly-tipping, there is no direct evidence linking HWRC usage levels with fly-tipping volumes.”
“Despite previous site closures, the remaining HWRCs continue to experience increased visitor numbers and waste tonnages.”
