Birmingham Declares Major Incident as Bin Strike Worsens Public Health Crisis

With 17,000 tonnes of uncollected waste and escalating health risks, the council deploys emergency measures to address strike disruptions.

Birmingham City Council declared a major incident to tackle the mounting waste crisis caused by an ongoing bin strike, which began on March 11, 2025.
The council estimates 17,000 tonnes of uncollected rubbish, with daily waste accumulation nearing 900 tonnes, exacerbating public health concerns including rat infestations and fire risks.
Striking workers, represented by Unite, are protesting the removal of the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer role, which they claim leads to significant pay cuts; the council disputes these claims.
Picket line disruptions have severely hindered the council’s contingency plans, reducing weekly waste collection rates from 87% to just 17%.
The declaration allows the council to deploy 35 additional vehicles and crews, seek support from neighboring authorities and the government, and focus on clearing blocked depots to resume waste collection.