From June 30, thousands of households in North Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield will start a major overhaul of their waste collection service. The changes include the reintroduction of recycling collections, new weekly food waste pickups, and a shift to fortnightly alternating black bin and recycling bin collections.
First Phase Begins Tomorrow
Households served by the Perry Barr waste depot will be the first to transition to the new multi-bin system. This includes all eight Sutton Coldfield wards, Handsworth, Handsworth Wood, Perry Barr, Perry Common, Oscott, Kingstanding, Stockland Green, Gravelly Hill, Birchfield, Erdington, Pype Hayes, Castle Vale, and parts of Lozells, Aston, and Holyhead. The rest of the city is expected to follow by Christmas.
New Collection Schedule
Under the new scheme, black bins for general waste will be collected one week, and recycling bins the next week. Recycling will be split into two bins: a blue-lidded bin for plastic, glass, cans, and tins, and a green-lidded bin for cardboard and paper. Food waste will be collected weekly from a new food waste bin. Separate arrangements are being made for tower blocks, multiple-occupied premises, and hard-to-reach flats that currently rely on black bin bags, which will continue weekly collections for now.
Ongoing Bin Strike
The transformation is proceeding despite the ongoing 18-month dispute between Birmingham City Council and the bin workers' union Unite. Talks continue, but both sides remain tightlipped, describing the discussions as at a sensitive stage. Councillor Harris Khaliq, cabinet member for city services and digital, stated that resolving the bin strike remains the council's top priority, but the new waste collection system could not be delayed indefinitely.
Council's Commitment
The new coalition administration, comprising Greens, LibDems, and Better Birmingham Independents, has hailed the change as a vital first step toward a cleaner city. Councillor Khaliq acknowledged the need for residents to relearn recycling habits after a period of dumping everything in one bin due to the strike. He said: "Every household will get a package of information specific to them, including calendars setting out when each collection will take place. The website is being updated and information will be regularly updated online."
Additional Measures
The council has committed to ramping up CCTV enforcement against flytipping and increasing street cleaning as part of the rollout. Councillor Khaliq added: "One size does not fit all in Birmingham." Bespoke solutions will be found for flats and tower blocks after a survey. The scheme is initially being piloted to gather data and feedback before full rollout.
Opposition Criticism
Opposition groups, including the Conservatives, Reform, and Labour, have criticized the new administration for its u-turn on bin collections. However, the council insists the changes are essential to improve the city's cleanliness and waste capacity.
Resident Information
Residents are urged to check the council's website for updates on their collection days. Letters have already been sent to thousands of homes, and a social media campaign is underway. Affected households will receive new bins and a food waste caddy along with detailed information.
