Residents across Birmingham are set for a major overhaul of their household waste and recycling services, with a new system confirmed to launch in 2026. The city council has officially scheduled the rollout of its waste transformation for June 2026, a date it is committed to prioritising even if industrial action is ongoing.
What are the key changes to bin collections?
The most significant shift will see the collection of general household rubbish move from weekly to fortnightly. Council officials state this reduction is feasible due to the introduction of new, dedicated recycling streams, which are expected to divert a large volume of material away from the general waste bin.
To compensate, a new weekly food waste collection service will be introduced for all eligible households. Residents will be provided with two caddies: a smaller one for indoor use and a larger, lockable one for outdoor storage. This initiative is a central part of the council's strategy to boost the city's recycling rates.
Furthermore, a second recycling bin will be provided specifically for paper and cardboard, separating these materials from other recyclables like glass, plastic, and cans. Collections for these recycling bins will also operate on a fortnightly basis, alternating with the general waste collections.
How and when will the new system be introduced?
The transformation will not happen all at once. It will be implemented in a phased rollout, starting with approximately 20,000 households at a time, organised by the local depot that serves them.
The changes will begin with residents served by the Perry Barr depot, before moving to the Lifford depot in south Birmingham and then the Atlas depot in Tyseley.
However, the timeline differs for those in flats or properties above shops. The council has indicated that these 130,000 multiple-occupancy properties may not see the new services until late 2026 or even 2027, as they require a separate implementation plan.
Preparing for the new waste service
To ensure a smooth transition, the council will launch a pilot scheme for food waste collections in March 2025. Alongside this trial, a major communication campaign is promised to inform every household precisely when their service will switch over and what they need to do.
The council has already invested in a modernised fleet of collection vehicles aimed at improving reliability and tackling the historically high number of missed collections. The ultimate goal of this comprehensive shake-up is to help Birmingham exceed the government's target of recycling 65% of waste by 2035.
