Birmingham residents have gone a full year without a normal refuse collection service. Unite members began an all-out strike on 11 March 2025 over a pay dispute, with the union arguing that planned reforms to the service will cost hundreds of its members thousands of pounds. The council disputes this, maintaining the changes are necessary to improve collections.
The Government has urged both sides to reach a settlement, though a spokesperson for the Communities and Local Government Department said resolving the strike remains a matter for the council. Birmingham City Council says its contingency arrangements are ensuring every household receives a weekly waste collection, with around 1,370 tonnes collected from the kerbside each day.
Regardless of the industrial action, the council says it will press ahead with a new waste service from summer 2026. Food waste collections are due to be phased in from June, alongside improvements to recycling and green waste services.
Source: Lbc