As Birmingham’s bin workers’ strike nears its one-year mark, the city council has obtained a High Court injunction banning protestors from blocking its waste depots and disrupting bin collections.
The injunction, granted following the council’s application, prohibits protestors supporting the Unite the Union strike from entering, occupying, or obstructing access to four key depots: Atlas Depot in Kings Road, Tyseley; Lifford Lane Depot in Ebury Road, Kings Norton; Perry Barr Depot in Holford Drive; and Smithfield Depot in Sherlock Street. Additionally, it forbids blocking or interfering with any council street management vehicles in Birmingham.
Anyone found breaching the injunction faces possible imprisonment or fines. The council emphasized the order does not restrict peaceful protesting that does not interfere with waste collection services or lawful picketing.
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This injunction will remain in place for up to three months initially, pending further court orders or trial.
Unite the Union members began striking in January 2025 over alleged “fire and rehire” pay cuts reportedly reaching £8,000. The strike escalated in March 2025, with additional agency staff joining over claims of bullying and blacklisting. Since then, rubbish has accumulated across the city, with no recycling or green waste collections for more than a year.
Despite previous efforts to prevent union members from blocking lorries, other protestors continued to obstruct depot access, causing disruptions affecting approximately 67,000 households or 19% of bin collections in January 2026 alone.
The city council described the legal action as necessary following an increase in disruptive demonstrations since Christmas.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Birmingham City Council confirmed the High Court judgment, issued by Mr Justice Pepperall on 20 February 2026, targets “persons unknown” involved in obstructive protests at waste depots.
The full terms of the sealed injunction order will be published when available. The council warned that violating the injunction could result in up to two years’ imprisonment, significant fines, and asset seizure for contempt of court.
The council urged anyone involved or interested in the protests to take the injunction terms seriously to avoid legal consequences.