Birmingham City Council's ruling Labour administration is facing fierce criticism for its ongoing failure to reintroduce the city's garden waste collection service, which remains suspended as a major industrial dispute enters its second year.
Strike Leaves Service in 'Limbo'
The seasonal garden waste service was halted last spring due to the protracted bins strike, leaving many subscribers who had already paid for the year out of pocket. The council later reimbursed residents, with the total lost income estimated at a substantial £4.4 million.
Last week, the council confirmed it could not restart the collections for the foreseeable future, citing the continuing industrial action. This announcement has sparked anger from opposition councillors and residents alike.
Political Blame Game Intensifies
Conservative shadow cabinet member for environment, Councillor Tim Huxtable, launched a scathing attack, labelling the situation the "latest in a long line of failures."
"Labour’s incompetence means Birmingham residents are being let down yet again," Huxtable stated. "Garden waste collections should be gearing up now for the spring rush... But under Labour, the service remains in limbo because they can’t even resolve a strike or deliver basic collections."
He linked the issue to the upcoming local elections in May, suggesting it was "time to put them out to grass for good."
In response, the Labour cabinet member for environment, Councillor Majid Mahmood, expressed shared frustration with residents. "We are as frustrated as they are. Unfortunately, we are unable to reintroduce the garden waste service at the moment," he said last week.
Resident Fury and Future Plans
The news has provoked a strong reaction on social media, with one resident, Michelle Callaghan, calling the situation an "absolute disgrace," noting her recycling bin had been full on her drive for a year. Another, Konrad Leon, said the council had turned the "once great city into a laughing stock."
Councillor Mahmood emphasised that reintroducing the service was a "priority." The council's wider waste service transformation, a key part of its financial recovery plan, is now scheduled to start in June 2024, regardless of the strike's status.
This overhaul will involve several changes:
- Moving general waste collections from weekly to fortnightly.
- Reintroducing recycling collections.
- Phasing in weekly food waste collections.
- Providing a second recycling bin for paper and cardboard.
In the meantime, residents are advised to compost green waste or use one of the city's five household recycling centres.
The strike itself, between the union Unite and the council, began over the removal of the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer role. A central point of contention has been union claims of a potential £8,000 pay cut for workers, a figure the local authority disputes. Despite negotiations, the two sides have so far failed to reach a resolution.
