Residents have challenged new figures showing a sharp drop in littering fines across Kirklees. However, the decline is not due to lack of litter but lack of staff.
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, littering is a criminal offence and offenders can face fixed penalty notices of up to £150. Data obtained through a Freedom of Information request shows Kirklees Council issued 95 on-the-spot fines for littering during 2023/24, generating more than £7,000 in penalties. By 2025/26, that figure had fallen to just 23 fines, worth a little over £1,000.
Despite the reduction, residents across the district say litter remains a growing problem.
Dewsbury resident Pauline Hinchcliffe, 82, who has lived in Kirklees all her life, said the amount of rubbish on the streets has worsened in recent years. “You see everything – cans, papers, cartons. If it’s in your hand, people just throw it on the ground,” she said.
“There is no pride in keeping the town clean anymore. It’s because the wardens aren’t doing their job properly.”
Concerns were highlighted this week after photographs shared online showed large amounts of rubbish piled up behind Dewsbury Bus Station.
Another long-term Kirklees resident, who asked not to be named, described the situation as “a disgrace”. Gesturing towards the litter-strewn area, he said the problem appeared to be getting worse rather than better.
While some residents said town centres such as Huddersfield appeared cleaner, they suggested that could be due to increased maintenance activity rather than a reduction in littering.
17 year old visitor Lilly Greenwood said she had noticed rubbish stuffed into newly installed planters during a visit to Huddersfield town centre but had also seen cleaning teams working nearby. “I have seen the Huddersfield BID team around cleaning, so maybe that’s why,” she said.
Just a short distance from the town centre, litter was visible along Spring Grove Street near Huddersfield Leisure Centre, where a dead rat was also seen on the pavement.
The council said the figures only reflect cases where offenders were caught in the act of littering.
David Shepherd, Executive Director for Place at Kirklees Council, said: “Littering is a stain on our communities and I understand the frustrations of residents.
“We are in the process of recruiting additional officers who will boost support for tackling litter, and we continue to carry out on-the-spot fines for littering, which are a great deterrent and an expensive lesson for offenders. We continue to investigate incidents of fly-tipping on council land and prosecute those found guilty.
“The number of prosecutions reflects the number of offenders caught in the act. We encourage anyone who witnesses fly-tipping or littering, or who can provide evidence, to report it to help us successfully prosecute those responsible.
