CHANGES to the way household waste is collected in Kirklees have been approved by senior councillors.

The move is intended to provide a better service for residents as well as savings through efficiencies.

It involves new collection days for different types of waste in some areas of the district to allow more teams to work closely together and fewer vehicles to be needed.

Key changes involve a move to a 38-hour, 4 day bin collection service operating from Monday to Thursday. The plan will save £496,000 a year and will involve the loss of ten roles, which are currently covered by temporary staff.

Councillor Cathy Scott, cabinet member for housing and the relief of poverty, said: “In the past we have resisted changing bin days for residents in order to provide a top quality service with continuity, but this has come at the cost of efficiency, as over time new estates and properties are added to rounds that unbalance them. We are now at a point where we need to deliver the most efficient service.”

The changes were approved by Kirklees Council's cabinet and the improved bin collection service is expected to begin on September 7.