Birmingham City Council has announced that its long-awaited overhaul of the city’s bin collection service is set to commence in June 2026, regardless of the status of the ongoing strike by waste workers. The planned waste service transformation is a central element of the council’s broader recovery strategy and will shift household rubbish collections from a weekly to a fortnightly schedule.
Alongside this shift, the council intends to roll out weekly food waste collections and introduce a second recycling bin dedicated specifically to paper and cardboard. These initiatives were originally scheduled to begin rolling out from April but were delayed due to disruptions caused by the bin strikes. The strikes, triggered by the scrapping of the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role, resulted in significant pileups of uncollected waste and highly contentious council meetings. Workers have cited pay concerns, while Birmingham’s Labour-led council insists its offer remains “fair and reasonable.”
Councillor Majid Mahmood, Labour cabinet member for environment, expressed confidence that the service transformation will move forward next summer despite earlier delays. Several preparatory measures have already been put into place, including introducing over 1,100 new collection routes, launching a fully council-owned fleet to reduce dependency on hired vehicles, and providing enhanced training for staff and managers.
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“The new council-owned fleet is fully operational, improving reliability and consistency in collections,” Coun Mahmood explained. “Our crews now have the tools to deliver a more efficient and dependable service. We are ready to proceed with the rollout.”
Key elements of the service transformation include:
- Moving household rubbish collection to a fortnightly schedule, coordinated to coincide with the introduction of weekly food waste pickups.
- Distributing an additional bin for paper and cardboard recycling.
- Implementing the changes in phases, with approximately 20,000 residents switched over every two weeks.
- Deploying the new system via a depot-by-depot approach, starting with Perry Barr, Lifford, and Atlas depots in Tyseley.
However, the transformation’s initial rollout will focus exclusively on kerbside properties. Multiple occupancy buildings and flats above shops, accounting for an extra 130,000 properties, are expected to transition later, likely by the final quarter of 2026 or into 2027.
To mitigate ongoing strike-related disruptions, the council is considering establishing an alternative workforce to handle food waste collection if industrial action persists. This workforce would operate independently under a separate management team and may involve additional agency staff.
Recognizing the importance of public engagement for a successful transition, the council plans to launch extensive communication efforts starting early next year. This will ensure residents are well informed about changes to their collection schedules and encourage positive recycling behaviours.
Coun Mahmood emphasized the council’s commitment to regaining public trust: “We cannot afford to fail. Every resident will be clearly informed about when collections will occur and when their area will move to the new service.”
As Birmingham prepares for these transformative changes, residents can expect a greener, more reliable waste service designed to meet the city’s environmental goals while improving collection efficiency.