Birmingham bin strike intensifies: Calls grow to delay fortnightly collection changes

Birmingham’s waste collection crisis is deepening, with streets lined with overflowing bins and growing piles of rubbish, sparking concerns over public health and pest infestations.

Now, a controversial plan to switch to fortnightly bin collections is facing strong opposition, as the city grapples with an ongoing refuse workers' strike.

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From next month, the council intends to introduce a phased transition to less frequent rubbish collections, alongside weekly food waste pick-ups and new bins for paper and cardboard.

Officials argue the changes will improve recycling rates and reduce costs, forming part of a broader financial recovery plan.

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However, Conservative councillors are calling for the move to be postponed, warning that it will exacerbate an already dire situation.

They have written to the council’s cabinet member for the environment, arguing that families, elderly residents, and those in flats will struggle to cope with storing twice the amount of waste while collections remain inconsistent.

“The timing couldn’t be worse,” they caution, highlighting fears that mounting waste could worsen hygiene issues and attract vermin, particularly in densely populated areas.

The strike, led by Unite the union, is in protest against job cuts and pay concerns. The council, however, maintains that it has made a “fair and reasonable offer” and insists that the transition to fortnightly collections has been fully risk-assessed.

A spokesperson also noted that most local authorities across the UK already operate on a similar schedule.

But with no resolution in sight, Birmingham’s residents are left to navigate both the impact of the strike and an imminent overhaul of waste management—raising further frustration in a city already struggling to keep its streets clean.