'Thank you for your patience' - Council’s message as residents face 15 months without recycling collections

The bins strike not only led to mountains of waste piling up in city streets during its height but it also saw recycling collections suspended back in February.

Labour-run Birmingham City Council confirmed this week that its delayed transformation of the waste service, which includes the reintroduction of recycling, is set to go ahead next June – regardless of the strike.

But if the strike drags on into next May, that means residents in Birmingham could go around 15 months without their recycling being picked up.

Coun Majid Mahmood, the council’s cabinet member for environment, was asked on Tuesday what his message is to Brummies who feel let down by the possibility of having not having recycling collections for more than a year.

“I understand the frustration of residents,” he said. “I would like to thank them for their patience and understanding.

“Our recycling [rate] has gone down from 23 per cent to 15 per cent – I would thank all the residents who have been making trips to the household recycling centres.

“To support them, we have extended the hours of operation and we’ve removed the booking system at Castle Bromwich.

“I also want to thank the residents who have been supporting family, friends and neighbours to use the mobile household recycling sites which have been operating across the city.”

Coun Mahmood continued that his focus was on transforming the council’s waste service.

“Historically we’ve suffered from high missed collections in the city and low recycling rates,” he said.

“The whole purpose of this transformation is to change that. We want to exceed the 65 per cent target that’s been set by the government for recycling for 2035,” he added.

“We want to best in class in the country, so thank you again to the residents.”

The transformation of the waste service has been described as a key part of the crisis-hit council’s recovery plan and will see collections of household rubbish move from weekly to fortnightly.

Weekly food waste collections and a second recycling bin specifically for recycling paper and cardboard are also set to be introduced in phases across the city from June 2026 onwards.

A recently-published council report says the local authority needs to commit to a timetable for implementing the transformation, which includes the reintroduction of recycling.

“Residents deserve clarity and certainty and to be supported in their efforts to manage household waste responsibly across the city,” it said.

But it goes on to say that the waste service team will investigate wider options to reinstate recycling and green waste “as soon as reasonably practicable”.

The bins strike dispute between the council and Unite the union was initially sparked by the loss of the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role.

Striking workers have raised concerns about pay while the Labour-run council’s leadership has repeatedly insisted that a “fair and reasonable” offer had been made.