Trash piles up in UK’s Birmingham as strike triggers military plan

By Mehmet Solmaz

BIRMINGHAM, England (AA) - The British government has called military planners to help tackle the mounting piles of rubbish in Birmingham as a month-long strike by the city’s bin workers continues, leaving Britain’s second-largest city grappling with an estimated 20,000 tonnes of uncollected waste.

Amid an “ongoing public health risk” posed by the mounds of garbage piling up, military planners will be assigned to provide logistical support for a short period.

"The government has already provided a number of staff to support the council with logistics and make sure the response on the ground is swift to address the associated public health risks,” BBC quoted a government spokesperson as saying.

"In light of the ongoing public health risk, a small number of office-based military personnel with operational planning expertise have been made available to Birmingham City Council to further support in this area."

The strike, led by members of the Unite union and escalating to an all-out walkout on March 11, stems from a dispute over Birmingham City Council’s decision to eliminate the role of waste, recycling, and collection officer (WRCO).

The union claims the move could cost some workers up to £8,000 ($10,400) annually, affecting roughly 150 employees. The council, strained by financial woes after declaring effective bankruptcy in 2023 due to an equal-pay settlement, insists the change aligns with national standards and mitigates future liabilities.

Speaking to Anadolu, Birmingham’s Independent lawmaker Ayoub Khan has voiced strong support for the striking workers while lambasting local and national leadership.

“I fully support our bin workers who provide a vital service to the community; they work tirelessly in all weather conditions and deserve fair pay and proper treatment,” Khan said.

He criticized the Labour-run council, saying: “They’ve bankrupted the city, hiked council tax by 10% last year and another 7.5% this year — yet services have declined across the board. It’s the residents who are now paying the price for sheer incompetence.”

Khan also accused the government of delays and said: “I raised the issue with the Prime Minister nearly two weeks ago and called for support from the army. It’s only now that action is being taken. In the meantime, the state of our streets has become appalling, posing a serious health risk — especially with children off school for Easter and the weather getting warmer,” he said.

He urged both the government and council to “urgently get their act together to clean up our city and keep our streets safe.”

Residents have reported deteriorating conditions in their area, with overflowing bins drawing rats and producing a persistent foul smell. “Walking by the piles of trash daily is intolerable,” said Emma Patel, a resident in the Hockley district. “The odor is inescapable, and I’ve witnessed rats running around in the open during the day.”

The government’s deployment of military planners aims to ease logistical bottlenecks, with a spokesperson emphasizing the limited scope.

The council has enlisted support from neighboring authorities, with additional vehicles and crews dispatched to clear backlogs.

Unite remains defiant. General Secretary Sharon Graham labeled government rhetoric “a disgrace,” accusing officials of vilifying low-paid workers.

Birmingham City Council declared a major incident on March 31, citing health hazards from uncollected waste. Temporary drop-off sites have drawn long queues, with some residents driving miles to dispose of trash. Others report scams, with unlicensed collectors charging fees to remove waste only to dump it elsewhere.