Now it seems certain the council will introduce wheelie bins for waste collection to Calderdale.

And about time too, some will say.

Our region is one of the last in the country to switch from using old-style dustbins.

From which bin-liners were removed and stacked at the side of the road for collection. An eyesore at best, a hygiene hazard at worst.

It had previously been argued that Calderdale was too hilly to make wheelie bins viable.

But Kirklees is no less undulating and has successfully used them for waste and recycling for years.

Should people be asked to push the bins to the kerbside? Of course, with the exception of the elderly or infirm.

The claims for damage to cars and property would soon deluge the council if refuse collectors were expected to drag the bins along drives where cars are parked.

The council has been accepting tenders from contractors across Europe for what will be a multi-million-pounds, seven-year contract.

So far the nature of the proposals or those who have made them remain a secret. The health and social care scrutiny panel will peruse them next week. Cabinet convenes later this month.

Officers are believed to favour a two bin system – one for refuse, one for recyclables – which would be collected on alternate weeks. Added to this would be a weekly collection of food scraps which would be stored in a special caddy. These plans would help Calderdale fall in line with Government targets.

A long and difficult debate seems to be drawing to a suitable conclusion.