These photographs capture the unpleasant scenes across Birmingham – as mountains of rubbish line residential streets.
The situation across the second city has become so dire a Labour MP fears a public health emergency is on the horizon. Refuse collectors who are members of Unite are on an indefinite strike over plans to reduce their pay and so collections haven’t happened for several days.
It has meant bags of rubbish have piled up across the city and concern is growing for the most vulnerable, including those living in sheltered accommodation. Rats and even cockroaches have been seen crawling through the waste, Labour (Co-op) MP for Birmingham Edgbaston said.
She told the BBC: “Hundreds of constituents are contacting me, sending me pictures, really worried, saying that there are areas where they’ve seen sights of rats, of cockroaches and of course foxes are coming out ripping those bags up. Of course as the weather starts getting warmer there’s [an] awful stench and people are really worried about the public health element of this.”
In a letter to Birmingham City Council, Ms Gill stressed the authority has “statutory duties” to protect the public from an environmental and public health perspective. She said it must “take priority in this emergency situation”.
But pictures taken across the city, in areas including Aston, Acocks Green and Ward End, show unsightly messes. Residents have expressed their worry the situation will only get worse.
Ishy Yaqub, director of Guardian Supported Living which manages sheltered accommodation for people with mental health challenges in Acocks Green, said: “It is getting dire and there are lot of rats running around, and the smell is bad and also affecting the mental health of our residents who we support.”
A student in the Selly Oak part of the city also told the BBC: “It is not the most pleasant experience. They are trying to get us to take it to the skip but we don’t all have cars, so it is not possible for students.”
Around 350 members of Unite are involved in the industrial action, which has happened on and off since January. It follows a row over pay and conditions, particularly the loss of a job role. The union claims some members could lose £8,000 from their salary, but the council said only a small number of workers stand to lose less than £6,000.
Birmingham City Council, which in September 2023 declared itself bankrupt, had said: “This escalation of industrial action will mean greater disruption to residents – despite the fair and reasonable offer that the council made to Unite the Union. To the small number of workers whose wages are impacted ongoing by the changes to the service (of whom there are now only 40) we have already offered alternatives, including highly valuable LGV Driver Training for career progression and pay, and other roles in the council equivalent to their former roles. No worker will lose the sums Unite are claiming.
“Residents of Birmingham want and deserve a better waste collection service and the restructure that Unite is opposing is part of the much-needed transformation of the service. Our door is still open, and we would encourage Unite to come back to the table.
“We thank residents for their continued understanding and patience so far and will continue to provide up-to-date information about our plans during the industrial action.”
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