For months the folks at Kerbside, which employs disadvantaged people to collect and sort recyclables, thought they would have a part to play after a new contractor, Sita, takes over the running of Calderdale's waste collection next month. In broad terms, they expected to stay looking after recycling in the same areas, mainly in the upper Calder and Ryburn valleys, that they look after now.

But as it turns out that was over-confidence. For this week they were told they would not be needed. Presumably French waste giant Sita now plans to look after everything through its own workforce. This despite an apparent obligation in its agreement with Calderdale Council to involve the voluntary sector.

Kerbside's trustees are furious and have vowed to carry on recycling. They will ask their clients to ignore Sita's collection bins and continue using their Kerbside "eco-box" for paper and glass. That way, they hope, money raised from these commodities should keep their workforce, who all want to stay with Kerbside, gainfully employed.

The gutsiness of this response has taken a few people by surprise, especially at Sita and the town hall.

But it should be no surprise to those who remember how Kerbside fought back once before, carving a new future and a new role for itself after its parent organisation collapsed.

Although the Kerbside's collection and sorting operation is labour-intensive, it provides an excellent, reliable and worthwhile service.

Most of the cheerful, diligent workforce is made up of people with learning difficulties who have found it hard to get jobs elsewhere. It would be a shame if plans for our "brave new world" had not such people in it.