Huge queues in Birmingham as bin strike causes chaos

By Adam Dutton
Published 7th Apr 2025, 09:56 BST
Updated 8th Apr 2025, 11:52 BST
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Residents face immense queues at rubbish drop-off sites as the Birmingham bin strike persists. Discover the impact on local streets and community reactions.

There were huge queues at mobile rubbish collection points today as the Birmingham bin strikes continue.

Mohammed Ghafoor, 68, from Saltley, Birmingham, was dropping off his rubbish at Broadway Avenue, Heartlands, Birmingham, today (6).

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Mobile bin collection sites along Broadway Avenue, Heartlands, Birmingham, sees queues of cars, double parking, getting stuck and chaos as residents scrabble to rid their rubbish todayMobile bin collection sites along Broadway Avenue, Heartlands, Birmingham, sees queues of cars, double parking, getting stuck and chaos as residents scrabble to rid their rubbish today
Mobile bin collection sites along Broadway Avenue, Heartlands, Birmingham, sees queues of cars, double parking, getting stuck and chaos as residents scrabble to rid their rubbish today | Emma Trimble / SWNS

He said the streets around his home are filled with rubbish being dumped by people from across the city.

He said the bin strikes are "stupidity" and local residents can't deal with the mess anymore.

Bin workers walked out indefinitely on March 11 after strikes across January and February.

Mobile bin collection sites along Broadway Avenue, Heartlands, Birmingham, sees queues of cars, double parking, getting stuck and chaos as residents scrabble to rid their rubbish today.Mobile bin collection sites along Broadway Avenue, Heartlands, Birmingham, sees queues of cars, double parking, getting stuck and chaos as residents scrabble to rid their rubbish today.
Mobile bin collection sites along Broadway Avenue, Heartlands, Birmingham, sees queues of cars, double parking, getting stuck and chaos as residents scrabble to rid their rubbish today. | Emma Trimble / SWNS

Birmingham City Council declared a major incident amid concerns of risks to public health.

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The strike was triggered by a dispute between the council and the union over alleged pay cuts.

The city council has started running mobile household waste centres.

Mobile bin collection sites along Broadway Avenue, Heartlands, Birmingham, sees queues of cars, double parking, getting stuck and chaos as residents scrabble to rid their rubbish todayMobile bin collection sites along Broadway Avenue, Heartlands, Birmingham, sees queues of cars, double parking, getting stuck and chaos as residents scrabble to rid their rubbish today
Mobile bin collection sites along Broadway Avenue, Heartlands, Birmingham, sees queues of cars, double parking, getting stuck and chaos as residents scrabble to rid their rubbish today | Emma Trimble / SWNS

Mohammed, a retired pharmaceutical lab technician, said: "It is stupidity. I don't know what the bin men are doing.

"It can't get much worse, there are mountains are rubbish on every road. Wherever there is a wall, there is a mountain of bags against it.

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"It stinks, there are rats everywhere, and animals are opening the bags, causing litter to go everywhere.

"People can't cope with it anymore."

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Related topics:BirminghamBirmingham City CouncilStrikesResidentsLitterBin collection

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