A Birmingham resident has expressed outrage after the city council repeatedly failed to collect bags of clinical waste left on her driveway. The resident, who lives in Quinton, said she felt 'sickened' by the ongoing issue, which has left her feeling exposed and concerned about hygiene.
Repeated Collection Failures
The woman told the Express & Star that she placed the clinical waste at the bottom of her drive on Sunday 26 April, expecting collection on Monday 27 April. However, the bags were still there days later. This follows a similar incident at the end of March, when waste left on Sunday 29 March for Monday 30 March collection was not picked up until Friday 10 April.
At the time, a Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: 'A crew attended the property this morning (Friday 10 April) and removed six bags of waste. Waste was also removed on 23 March, when the crew reported collecting three bags of waste. A collection was scheduled for 30 March, but the crew reported that no waste was presented.'
Resident's Frustration
The resident, who is the main carer for her husband with end-stage Parkinson's disease, described the situation as 'diabolical'. She said: 'I feel very sick about this, one being the hygiene, two I feel as though my privacy has been taken away, and three what's contained in the sacks should not be broadcasted that a resident is in need of this service.'
Her daughter previously explained that the bags contain 'heat pads soaked in urine and faeces'. The woman added: 'My grandchildren come and they've got to walk past those bags. They are only little and they could pick up infections.'
Call for Action
The resident has urged the council to 'organise what they are doing' and ensure reliable collections. She noted that she had not received a reply to an email sent earlier in the week. The Express & Star has contacted Birmingham City Council for an updated comment on the matter.
