Birmingham, the second-largest city in the United Kingdom, is struggling with a waste problem. Currently, about 19,000 tons of waste have piled up in Birmingham, and there are complaints that the city has become a "paradise for rats" as garbage piles are forming throughout the area.
The beginning of the waste crisis dates back to December of last year. At that time, sanitation workers affiliated with the Unite the Union in the UK and Ireland announced plans to strike this year in response to the city council's firing of 150 employees responsible for waste recycling and collection, and its demands for wage cuts and a ban on overtime.
As the confrontation between both sides continued, the sanitation workers' union ultimately began the strike on the 11th of last month, and currently, garbage collection trucks are being prevented from leaving the depot to pick up garbage. Unite criticized the city council, stating, "The council could easily resolve this issue, yet it insists on implementing plans for wage cuts at any cost."
Initially, Birmingham collected about 500,000 cases of waste weekly, but now it is collecting less than 360,000 cases. As of the 31st of last month, the council estimated that approximately 19,000 tons of waste had accumulated in the city, and the amount of waste is estimated to be increasing by nearly 1,000 tons each day.
Norman Yousaf, director of the waste management company Monster Clearance, noted, "Birmingham has become a paradise for rats," adding, "Our team frequently encounters rats during collection operations, and employees wear protective gear, like steel-toed boots, to prepare for potential bites from rats."
As the weather warms up, the situation is expected to worsen. Natalie Ford, a manager at the pest control company Alternative, noted, "The rats are becoming bolder due to the plentiful food (garbage) supply," and added, "Because there’s food available, poison used to catch rats is ineffective. This will make infection control even more challenging."
Residents' complaints are exploding. According to WP, the Birmingham City Council page on the social media platform Facebook is overwhelmed with complaints, and there have been reports from local media that rats are gnawing on residents' car wiring. One council member stated that voters sent letters reporting that residents are being bitten by rats.
In particular, the citizens' backlash against the waste crisis has intensified as Birmingham's taxes have drastically increased in recent years. According to The Guardian, Birmingham, which declared bankruptcy in 2023, raised council taxes by a total of 17.5% over two occasions. Birmingham resident Ali Khan, 27, stated, "We are paying taxes, but the waste is not being collected, which is a fraud."
Hope for resolving the waste crisis remains. WP reported that "negotiations between the city council and the union are still ongoing," and that "both sides are willing to continue efforts to end the strike." UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, "We cannot completely accept the trash collection strike," and added, "I support the city council that has declared a state of emergency and will provide any additional support needed."