Birmingham Waste Crisis: Three Million Bins and Counting

Birmingham has plunged into an unprecedented waste crisis as an indefinite bin strike enters its fourth week, leaving an estimated 2.8 million uncollected wheelie bins across the city and sparking serious public health concerns.

The strike, which began with intermittent action in January before escalating to an all-out stoppage on 11 March, has resulted in approximately 17,000 tonnes of waste accumulating across the city, with rats described as “big as cats” now plaguing neighbourhoods.

“It’s not something you want to be walking out your house to – it’s just a constant reminder that we’re just living in rubbish,” said Ben Bartlett-Metcalf, a 21-year-old student.

His friend Joshua Todd added: “Obviously you can see the amount of rubbish that is around and it’s just disgusting, it’s off-putting, it’s not nice to live in. You don’t want to be walking down the street, especially as it’s getting warmer, the smells are becoming more apparent.”

The crisis escalated further on Monday when Birmingham City Council declared a major incident, citing deteriorating public health conditions and claiming picket lines were blocking council depots. The declaration enables the deployment of additional resources, including 35 extra vehicles for street cleaning and fly-tipping removal.

Council Leader John Cotton said: “It is regrettable that we have had to take this step, but we cannot tolerate a situation that is causing harm and distress to communities across Birmingham.”

Bin collections dispute

At the heart of the dispute is the council’s decision to remove the waste recycling and collection officer (WRCO) role. Unite the Union claims this will leave about 150 members £8,000 worse off annually through what they describe as “hugely damaging cuts to refuse workers’ wages”.

The council disputes these figures, maintaining that only 17 staff would lose a maximum of £6,000 in pay, and argues that the change is necessary to align with national practices and improve service delivery.

Despite multiple attempts at resolution, talks between Unite and the council have repeatedly broken down, with the most recent negotiations on 27 March ending after just two hours with neither side showing signs of compromise.

Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, has accused the council of being “determined to impose its plan of demotions and pay cuts at any cost” and warned that the substantial pay cuts for refuse workers might just be the beginning of broader austerity measures.

“I urge the Birmingham council to reconsider this detrimental strategy and find a solution that does not penalize workers and communities for the mistakes of politicians,” she said.

Public health emergency

The public health impact has been severe, with residents reporting significant problems with vermin. In areas like Small Heath, growing piles of rubbish have attracted rats and other pests, forcing some residents to keep windows shut despite warming spring temperatures.

Basmin Khan from the Small Heath Forum highlighted the risks posed by rats, noting their presence under cars and in gardens, while forum member Naeem Yusuf mentioned the rising sense of despair among residents: “People are reluctant to open their front doors now because of the stench from these bags.”

One woman reportedly found her car inoperable after rats had gnawed through the vehicle’s wiring, costing her £300 in repairs.

The crisis has not affected all areas of Birmingham equally, with some neighbourhoods suffering more severely than others, fuelling tensions among residents who question why their streets appear to be overlooked while others receive at least minimal service.

Economic impact

The economic impact extends beyond individual households, with the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce warning that the crisis is harming the city’s image and making it less attractive to investors.

Raj Kandola, director of external affairs at the Chamber, said: “The longer this goes on, the less attractive our city will become to investors and also reinforces the negative stereotypes we have seen peddled in the national media.”

Business leaders have called for an urgent resolution to protect Birmingham’s reputation as a place to live, visit, and do business, recognising the potential for long-lasting economic consequences.

The crisis comes at a particularly difficult time for the council’s finances. Having declared bankruptcy in September 2023 with an £87 million deficit, Birmingham City Council is already operating under severe financial constraints.

Waste management company Divert estimates cleanup costs at £129.65 million, with potential additional costs of £25,931,250 per missed collection. These substantial cleanup costs may eventually be passed to residents through council tax increases, adding to the 7.5% increase already planned for April 2025.

Political response

The national Labour government has explicitly refused suggestions to send in the military despite calls from former government minister Edwina Curry, with the Prime Minister’s spokesperson describing the situation as “unacceptable” while stating they are “monitoring and working with the council”.

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker has written to Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham calling for an urgent pause in the strike action, stating: “Just like every resident in Birmingham, I’m fed up with the waste piling up and the streets being filthy. This dispute is harming residents and businesses – the city cannot be held to ransom by such a small number of people.”

For Birmingham, this crisis represents just the latest chapter in a troubled history with waste management. The city experienced major bin strikes in 2017 and 2019, with the 2017 action lasting three months and similarly resulting in waste piling up in streets across the city.

As Birmingham’s waste crisis deepens and summer approaches, the human and economic costs continue to mount, increasing pressure on all parties to find a resolution before the situation deteriorates further.