Birmingham City Council has reversed its decision to include flats in its new fortnightly household waste collection pilot, reintroducing weekly collections for these properties. The pilot scheme, which affects around 110,000 homes in north Birmingham, initially switched black bin collections to a fortnightly schedule alongside the return of recycling collections for the first time in over 18 months, with food waste collected weekly.
Neighbourhoods involved in the scheme include Aston, Birchfield, Castle Vale, Erdington, Gravelly Hill, Handsworth and several Sutton areas, among others. However, concerns were raised about the suitability of fortnightly collections for flats, which typically have limited space for individual bins and can generate substantial waste.
Local councillor Richard Parkin (Sutton Reddicap, Conservative) highlighted issues following the scheme’s introduction, noting significant rubbish build-up and overflowing bins on Churchill Road, Sutton Coldfield. He called on the council to reconsider the approach for flats, which are referred to as ‘maisonettes’ by the council but commonly known as flats.
READ MORE: Birmingham Sees Sharp Rise in ‘Exempt’ Supported Housing for Homeless
In response, the council has confirmed that flats within the pilot area will be excluded from the fortnightly household waste collection schedule. While recycling collections will continue on a fortnightly basis, these properties will not participate in the current food waste collection trial.
Councillor Parkin said, “The waste pilot has been put on hold for flats, which have been put back on weekly household waste collections and fortnightly recycling collections.” He added that many flat residents had not received the necessary recycling bins or food caddies and often faced space constraints that made fortnightly collections impractical.
The council is now developing a dedicated food waste recycling pilot specifically for maisonettes to ensure future arrangements are both practical and effective for residents. Cabinet member for city services and digital, Councillor Harris Khaliq (Ward End, Better Birmingham), emphasised the iterative nature of the pilot, stating, “Pilots are designed to test, learn and refine. We will keep listening to residents and make evidence-based improvements.”
Councillor Parkin remarked that the issues could have been avoided if the council had heeded early warnings from local councillors before rushing the scheme’s implementation.
“Rubbish has been left piling up outside flats, which have suddenly been put on alternate fortnightly household waste and recycling collections. Many flat residents have not received new recycling bins or food caddies, others have no room to store them.” – Coun Richard Parkin
The council’s review marked a significant adjustment in the pilot programme, reflecting the importance of tailored waste collection services to meet the diverse needs of Birmingham’s housing types. The ongoing pilot will continue to be monitored and adapted accordingly to provide an effective and practical waste and recycling service for all residents.