Residents' fears over fortnightly bin collections

Birmingham residents have voiced their anger and fears over changes to the city's bin collections set for April.

The cash-strapped city council has said phased changes - from weekly collections for general household waste to fortnightly pick-ups - will save money.

But residents have accused the plan of being "spectacularly unfair" amid a 10% council tax hike.

It comes as bin workers are set to stage a second day of strike action on Tuesday in a dispute with the council over the "downgrading" of about 170 roles, which would cost affected staff an average of £8,000 a year, according to their union. Additional strikes are planned.

The authority has said it will do all it can to minimise disruption to residents.

A council report has stated that the fortnightly collection should kick in from April, with wards served by the Perry Barr depot to switch first, and full roll-out implemented by November.

Other proposed changes include the launch of a weekly food waste collection service, as well as a second recycling bin for residents.

The council is also investing in a new fleet of lorries and food waste collection vehicles while replacing its IT system to help drivers communicate with its operations centre in real time.

But written responses to the changes by residents included one stating: "What a crying shame. What has happened to the city I love and grew up in?"

Another questioned how going from a weekly to fortnightly general waste collection could "ever be a better service"?

A third asked: What's it going to be like in a year's time? It's a disgrace even as it stands at present."

There were also accusations the switch would be "spectacularly unfair", with a respondent saying: "This is entirely due to the council, who are also putting up the council tax."

A resident with a more positive response said most homes around the country now had fortnightly collections and people must recycle more.

In November, residents in Bartley Green, Selly Park and Northfield complained that their bins were not being collected when they should be, which the council said was down to a "change programme".

Councillor Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment and transport, said of the changes: "I know some residents are concerned about moving to a fortnightly residual waste service, but this will not be introduced until we have the food waste collections, meaning people will have less general waste.

"There will be a phased introduction and we will be communicating all the changes to residents."

Further industrial action is planned on 22 and 30 January, followed by 7, 10,18, 26 February, and then 6, 14, 25 March, plus 2 April.

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.