Councillors are demanding urgent action after what they describe as 'chaos' at a Sutton Coldfield tip. The Norris Way recycling centre has been experiencing growing queues, with a councillor linking the city's long-running bin strike and an ineffective booking policy as reasons behind the delays.
Conservative Leader Calls for Action
On Tuesday, June 16, Conservative leader Robert Alden urged Birmingham City Council to 'restore recycling collections as quickly as possible, while protecting weekly bin collections'. The bin strike has been cited as a major factor contributing to the congestion at the tip.
Councillor Demands Policy Change
Councillor David Pears took to social media to 'demand' urgent action and a change in policy to reduce ongoing delays. He has written to the leader of the council seeking action. Pears highlighted that while the bin strike is a reason for queues, another issue is people arriving without booking in advance.
He called for 'all visitors to be challenged' by staff at the entrance rather than at the kiosk to show they have booked a slot and are from the city. He also urged improved signage to make it clear there is 'no entry without booking'.
Details of the Proposed Changes
- Improved signage indicating 'no entry without booking'
- Staff to challenge visitors at the entrance road, allowing those without bookings to turn around before reaching the kiosk
- Review of booking capacity if the system is overloaded
- Consultation with councillors on all changes before implementation
Impact of Bin Strike
Cllr Pears said: 'Chaos at Norris Way Tip as traffic queues continue. Councillor Richard Parkin and myself have been in contact with Veolia officers again today demanding urgent action.' He added that a letter was sent to the leader of the council seeking an end to the dispute, which would result in recycling and green waste collections being reintroduced, reducing trips to the tip.
Speaking to BirminghamLive, Cllr Pears noted: 'The demand for the increase is largely due to the effect of the bin strike and bin men not being able to collect everything.' He expressed frustration that the new administration had not yet resolved the issue despite it being a priority.
Veolia Responds
A Veolia spokesperson said: 'We apologise to any residents who have experienced long queue times at Household Recycling Centres recently. The sites are currently experiencing very high footfall and our team is working hard to help everyone complete their visit as quickly as possible.'
They added that team members are responsible for ensuring visitors are Birmingham residents and ask for proof of residency upon arrival. 'This longstanding policy prevents residents from other areas using the sites, which would further increase demand on the service.'
Residents are advised to come prepared with proof of address and to check the Birmingham Veolia website for opening times and the best times to visit to avoid delays.
