Calls to delay bin collection changes during strike

National World - LocalTV

Overflowing bins and an ongoing strike are already causing problems across Birmingham – and now a controversial switch to fortnightly rubbish collections is under fire.

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00:00Birmingham's bin strike is already affecting thousands across the city.

00:07Streets strewn with bags, overflowing bins and mounting fears over hygiene have become

00:11the new normal in many neighbourhoods.

00:14Now the City Council's plan to move to fortnightly rubbish collections is facing serious opposition.

00:20From next month the Council wants to roll out a phased transition to less frequent bin

00:25collections alongside weekly food waste pick-ups and new bins for paper and cardboard.

00:31The aim, they say, is to improve recycling and cut costs as part of a wider recovery

00:36plan following recent financial turmoil.

00:39But with industrial action still ongoing, Conservative councillors say the timing couldn't

00:44be worse.

00:45They've written to the Cabinet Member for Environment, warning that the change will

00:49pile further pressure on households already struggling with irregular collections.

00:54They say for families, elderly residents and people in flats, storing twice the amount

00:59of waste during a strike is simply unworkable.

01:03Unite, the union behind the industrial action, says the strike is about protecting vital

01:09jobs and ensuring fair pay for refuse workers.

01:13The Council insists it has made a fair and reasonable offer and says its proposals are

01:18fully risk assessed.

01:19A spokesperson said most councils across the country already operate for nightly collections.

01:25But with overflowing bins already a daily sight and no clear end to the dispute, many

01:31feel the city is a breaking point.

01:34And until a resolution is found, residents might be left dealing with both the fallout

01:38of the strike and a major shake-up in how their waste is collected.

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