Calls for bin removal after mystery 'dumping containers' appear in Batley.

Batley residents have called for the removal of a pair of unmarked clothing bins, over fears they will become a “dumping site”.

The bins were first noticed on August 30, when photos of two unmarked clothing donation bins at the corner of Henry Street in Batley were posted on Facebook.

The post drew a slew of comments, raising concerns that the donation points would become “illegal dumping containers” if they were not removed.

The donation points were first spotted on Henry Street, in Batley, last week

placeholder image — The donation points were first spotted on Henry Street, in Batley, last week

One worried local warned that the bins were a “total disregard for local council permits”, while others flagged that the owners “should have asked for permission” from the council.

This comes after efforts from Batley councillors, which resulted in the removal of four “long-standing fly-tipping hotspots”, caused by donation bins in the area.

According to Independent Cllr Akhtar Kasia and his colleagues, residents had raised concerns about four clothes-bank locations for “several years”.

Although originally installed to encourage textile recycling, the sites had become “magnets” for fly tipping, with bags of clothing, household waste, and other rubbish regularly dumped around the banks. Residents complained that the locations had “become eyesores”, attracting repeated fly tipping despite regular clean-ups.

Previously, donation bins were removed across four sites by Cllr Akhtar, including on Victoria Avenue

Now, the arrival of the mystery bins on Henry Street has left residents and councillors frustrated. Cllr Kasia told the Local Democracy Service: “I am extremely disappointed. We solved the problem, and now it’s back. I am not against recycling clothes, but only in the case of genuine charities, not those without permits.”

Following the photos, Cllr Kasia has since assured that the bins have been reported to the council and a “notice had been raised” giving the owners 15 days to remove the bins.

Kirklees Council were contacted for further comment.