Mountains of uncollected rubbish continue to blight the streets of Birmingham as a bitter bin strike marks the start of its second year.
Shocking pictures taken on New Year's Day in the Bordesley Green area show a wide array of waste piling up, a stark visual reminder of the ongoing industrial dispute that began in January 2025.
The Root of the Dispute
The strike was triggered by a disagreement between Birmingham City Council and the Unite union over the removal of the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer role. Union officials argue this change resulted in a pay cut for a significant number of workers.
The Labour-run council has consistently maintained that it presented a "fair and reasonable" offer to staff. It insists it cannot cross what it terms "equal pay red lines," a reference to the legal and financial constraints stemming from the city's historical equal pay liabilities.
Escalation and Major Incident
The industrial action intensified dramatically on March 11, 2025, when it escalated into an indefinite, all-out strike. The city's streets were quickly overwhelmed with uncollected waste.
The situation became so severe that the council was forced to declare a major incident. At the peak of the crisis, it was estimated that a staggering 17,000 tonnes of rubbish remained uncollected across Birmingham.
While the council made some progress in clearing the backlog during 2025, the fresh images from Bordesley Green on January 1, 2026, confirm that the fundamental issue remains unresolved, with waste visibly accumulating once more.
A City Awaiting a Resolution
As the strike enters its second calendar year, residents are facing continued disruption and environmental concerns. The standoff represents one of the longest-running industrial disputes in the city's recent history.
Key points of the ongoing situation include:
- The strike began in January 2025 over pay and role changes.
- It became an indefinite, all-out strike from March 11, 2025.
- A major incident was declared due to 17,000 tonnes of uncollected waste.
- Pictures from New Year's Day 2026 show rubbish piling up in Bordesley Green.
- No resolution has been reached between Birmingham City Council and Unite.
The visual evidence from the first day of 2026 underscores the urgent need for a renewed dialogue and a sustainable solution to a dispute that is now impacting the city for a second consecutive year.
