Overview

• Birmingham City Council has declared a major incident, citing 17,000 tonnes of uncollected waste and daily accumulation nearing 900 tonnes due to the ongoing bin strike.
• The strike, led by Unite union members, protests the elimination of waste collection and recycling officer roles, which workers say results in significant pay cuts.
• Picket line blockades have delayed waste collection efforts, with only 90 vehicles deployed under a contingency plan compared to the usual 200.
• The council's major incident declaration enables increased street cleansing, additional vehicles, and potential support from neighboring authorities and the UK Government.
• Public health concerns, including rising rat infestations and fire hazards, persist as negotiations between the council and Unite union remain unresolved.