Overview

• Birmingham's month-long bin strike over pay cuts and job security has left the city grappling with a waste crisis.
• Communities minister Jim McMahon announced that 26,000 tonnes of rubbish have been cleared, with over 100 bin trucks now operating daily.
• Regular waste collections have resumed, aided by Ministry of Defence logistics advisers and private sector support.
• Union leaders and Birmingham City Council officials are set to resume negotiations on Wednesday, with government urging Unite to accept a proposed deal.
• Critics, including Shadow Communities Secretary Kevin Hollinrake, have labeled the situation a 'national embarrassment,' highlighting political tensions surrounding the dispute.