Birmingham City Council has confirmed plans to restart recycling collections, which were suspended in February 2025 due to the impact of the ongoing bins strike. The new administration, a coalition of Liberal Democrats, Greens and independents, is moving ahead with major changes to the waste service, including a shift from weekly to fortnightly household rubbish collections, the introduction of a second recycling bin, and a weekly food waste collection.
Pilot Launch in North Birmingham
The changes will be rolled out in phases, starting with a pilot in areas served by the Perry Barr depot, including Sutton Coldfield, Erdington, Kingstanding, Aston, Handsworth and Perry Barr. New bins will be delivered from June 30, 2026, with collections under the new service beginning on July 6, 2026. Councillor Harris Khaliq, cabinet member for city operations and digital, said: “The pilot that will start from tomorrow will gather evidence and information.”
Phased Rollout Across the City
Chris Smiles, head of waste logistics and collections, confirmed that the rollout will follow a north-first, then south, then central order. Recycling “will eventually come back” for all residents, he said. Addressing concerns that some areas may go nearly two years without recycling, Smiles explained: “It’s in terms of a resource balance, that’s why it takes a bit of time for recycling. As you can imagine in principle you’re switching from weekly refuse to fortnightly refuse – one week refuse, one week recycling – so it’s just a matter of people coming on and off.”
Timeline and Bespoke Solutions
The new administration aims to have the full service in place “before Christmas subject to the trial results”. For residents who currently use black bin bags, such as those in flats above shops, weekly household rubbish collections will continue for now, with bespoke solutions to be developed. Councillor Khaliq described the changes as “exciting” and reiterated the administration’s commitment to cleaning up the city.
What Residents Will Get
Households in the pilot area will receive an indoor and outdoor food caddy for weekly food waste collections, and most will get new recycling bins with green lids to replace current recycling pods. Those without space for bins will receive recycling sacks. The council will also collect recycling boxes if put out. The alternating fortnightly system means one week household waste, the next week recycling.
Recycling Bin Contents
Residents will have two recycling bins: a blue-lid bin for plastic milk and water bottles, household plastic bottles, yoghurt pots, empty food tubs, raw meat trays, aerosol cans, clean foil and foil trays, aluminium drinks cans and food tins, glass bottles, empty glass jars, food and drink cartons (TetraPak or similar), and plant pots (except black ones). The green-lid bin will take cardboard boxes and packaging, cereal boxes, food boxes, empty toilet roll tubes, newspapers, magazines, egg boxes, junk mail, envelopes and office paper.
Communication and Support
The council is sending letters to households, running a social media campaign, and deploying engagement teams in local neighbourhoods. Residents are urged to check the changes to their waste collection page on the council’s website for specific details about their area.
