Birmingham City Council has announced plans for a major overhaul of its waste collection services, with a new system featuring weekly food waste pickups scheduled to begin in June 2026.
Details of the New Waste Service
The transformed service will introduce a weekly food waste collection for residents, a significant change from current arrangements. It will also include the provision of a second recycling bin to households. The council anticipates that these changes will help push the city's recycling rates beyond 30%, a key environmental target.
Cllr Majid Mahmood, the cabinet member for environment and transport, stated that residents will notice a tangible improvement. "Residents will see a real difference with the new service," he said. He highlighted that preparatory work is already underway, including the full operation of a new council-owned fleet of vehicles. This move has reduced reliance on hired lorries, leading to improved reliability and more consistent collections.
Implementation Amid Ongoing Disruption
The rollout of this new service has faced delays due to the ongoing bin strike action within the city. Despite this industrial action, which threatens to continue into the Christmas period, the council's intention is to press ahead with the phased introduction starting in June 2026.
The implementation will not be city-wide all at once. Instead, it will be rolled out on a phased basis, with approximately 20,000 households transitioning to the new service every two weeks. This staggered approach is designed to ensure a smoother operational changeover.
Next Steps and Approval
The entire plan remains subject to formal cabinet approval. A report detailing the new waste service strategy is expected to be presented to the council's cabinet on Tuesday, 9th December. Once approved, the council believes the new system will bring Birmingham in line with services offered by other local authorities.
Cllr Mahmood concluded, "The transformed service will bring Birmingham into line with other councils, improve recycling rates and provide a service our residents need and deserve." The council asserts that the changes will support the city's environmental goals while also benefiting both residents and staff through a more reliable and efficient operation.
