Residents in Birmingham are facing fresh disruption to their bin collections after protesters blocked dustcarts from leaving a key depot this morning.
Depot Blockade Causes Delays
Birmingham City Council confirmed that demonstrators were obstructing bin lorries at the Atlas Depot on Kings Road in Tyseley. The authority issued a warning to residents via social media platform X, stating that some collections on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, may be delayed as a direct result of the blockade.
The council urged households to still put their rubbish out as normal, assuring them that crews would collect it "as soon as possible". This incident echoes tactics used earlier in the year during the ongoing industrial action.
Background of the Bins Strike
The disruption is linked to the long-running dispute involving refuse workers, who have been on an all-out bins strike since March. Striking workers have previously carried out 'go-slow' protests, walking in front of lorries to prevent them from leaving depots on time.
In a significant recent development, the dispute has widened. Some 22 agency workers, who were brought in by the council to maintain bin collections during the strike, have recently voted to join the industrial action and stop work.
This ongoing conflict has meant there has been no doorstep collection of recycling or green waste throughout the entire year, with no resolution in sight before the end of 2025.
What Happens Next?
With the protest action continuing and agency staff now joining the picket line, the prospect of a swift return to normal bin collection services appears unlikely. Birmingham City Council has not provided an estimated time for when the delayed collections will be completed.
The union representing the striking workers, Unite, has been contacted for comment regarding this morning's specific disruption at the Atlas Depot.
