Fears are mounting that the ongoing bin strike in Birmingham is causing a spill-over of illegal waste dumping in the neighbouring borough of Solihull. The issue was raised during a Solihull Council scrutiny meeting, where councillors discussed a significant rise in reported fly-tipping incidents.
Spill-Over from Birmingham Strike
During the meeting on 11 November, Councillor Laura McCarthy highlighted a 'huge' increase in fly-tipping within her ward, directly linking it to the industrial action in Birmingham. Louise Baggott, the council's Head of Regulatory Services, confirmed the link, stating officers had identified several tips originating from Birmingham due to the strike.
"We have had a number of tips that we recognise have come from Birmingham because of the strike," Ms Baggott told the committee. She noted that while fly-tips often involve waste from outside Solihull, it is difficult to put an exact figure on the cross-border problem.
Fly-Tipping Statistics and Enforcement Challenges
Council data revealed that Solihull recorded 3,024 fly-tipping incidents in the 2024-2025 financial year. This marked a decrease of 752 cases from the previous year, but the concentration of dumping in certain areas remains a serious concern.
Enforcement action included investigating 140 cases, resulting in three prosecutions and seven fixed penalty notices. A council document spotlighted three significant cases at a layby on Fen End Road, where commercial waste was illegally dumped, leading to a successful court prosecution.
Ms Baggott outlined the resource constraints, revealing that currently only one dedicated officer handles all fly-tipping investigations. She acknowledged that a review is required to identify more effective methods.
Call for a New Strategy and More Resources
Councillors at the meeting backed the development of a new unlawful waste strategy to ensure a consistent approach. Proposed measures include:
- Improving reporting and documentation of cases.
- Deploying both visible and hidden cameras to catch offenders.
- Ensuring better feedback to ward councillors when residents report incidents.
While Councillor Alan Feeney questioned what would help, the officer's response was clear: more resources would be great. A major hurdle remains public reluctance to give witness statements due to fear of repercussions.
The council now aims to formalise and adopt this new strategy to tackle the persistent issue of illegal waste dumping head-on.
