‘Apocalyptic’ Birmingham is still littered with mounds of rubbish six months into the city’s unprecedented bin strikes.
Shocking new images show the extent of the litter on pavements including dumped mattresses, boxes, black bags and plastic containers blocking the path.
Lengthy negotiations are taking place between the Unite union and city council – but there still appears to be no end in sight.
Some locals have complained of feeling ‘forgotten about’ amid the foul smells and infestations of giant rats dubbed ‘Squeaky Blinders’.
Student Bethany Campbell, 22, of Selly Oak, said: ‘We just can’t believe it’s still going on, what is taking so long?
‘The worst part is that the decision makers probably don’t even live in Brum, so they have no idea what a nightmare this is for us.
‘The place stinks, it looks atrocious and residents just feel like they are being forgotten about. Nobody should live like this in modern Britain.’
Danny Carter, 33, of Tyseley, added: ‘It is completely unacceptable this has been allowed to go on for so long.
Shocking new images show the extent of the litter on pavements including dumped mattresses, boxes, black bags and plastic containers blocking the path
A stray cat can been seen rummaging through the litter which has piled up on the streets of Birmingham
A wheelbarrow takes up space on the pavement besides black wheelie bins and a mound of plastic bags
‘We had thousands of visitors from across the globe over the weekend for the Sabbath concert and this isn’t how we want people to remember our city.’
Student Theo Charlton, 21, also from Selly Oak, said: ‘The other day I was looking at everyone moving out and it was apocalyptic the amount of rubbish left behind.
‘People don’t prepare for leaving, they just dump so much stuff. I thought to myself, ‘that’s going to be there for ages, it’s not going to get collected.’
Local councillor Izzy Knowles said residents living in flats in Moseley had little to no recycling facilities and waste was becoming ‘contaminated’.
She added: ‘The recycling is totally full up. It’s getting contaminated.
‘Some don’t have cars, even if they go to the tip they’re not allowed in as pedestrians.’
The walkout began in January over pay cuts of up to £8,000 impacting around 400 workers who are either former waste recycling collection officers or bin lorry drivers.
Workers have a mandate to continue striking until December and last week staged a demonstration outside the Local Government Association (LGA) conference in Liverpool.
Student Theo Charlton, 21, from Selly Oak, said: ‘The other day I was looking at everyone moving out and it was apocalyptic the amount of rubbish left behind’
Local councillor Izzy Knowles said residents living in flats in Moseley had little to no recycling facilities and waste was becoming ‘contaminated’
‘The place stinks, it looks atrocious and residents just feel like they are being forgotten about. Nobody should live like this in modern Britain,’ a resident said
Lengthy negotiations are taking place between the Unite union and city council – but there still appears to be no end in sight
Some locals have complained of feeling ‘forgotten about’ amid the foul smells and infestations of giant rats dubbed ‘Squeaky Blinders’
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said the union would be ‘relentless’ in its pursuit of a fair deal.
She said: ‘John Cotton needs to stop hiding from the biggest issue facing his council – the bin strikes.
‘Birmingham residents understand exactly why the bin workers are striking.
‘The scale of the cuts being proposed by the council are indefensible. Many of these bin workers face losing their homes.
‘It’s time John Cotton stepped up, entered the room, and resolved this dispute.
‘The protest should also put other councils attending the LGA conference on notice if they are thinking of trying to get workers to pay for mistakes made by politicians:
‘Unite will be relentless in the fightback.’
Last month Birmingham bin workers voted to continue industrial action – meaning the strikes could go on until December.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said the union would be ‘relentless’ in its pursuit of a fair deal
Last month Birmingham bin workers voted to continue industrial action – meaning the strikes could go on until December
‘The council is grateful for the community groups who are working to clear waste and helping their fellow residents during this challenging time’, a spokesman said
A spokesman for Birmingham City Council said: ‘The council recognises the significant impact that industrial action has had on the people and communities of Birmingham and thanks every resident for their continued patience under difficult circumstances.
‘The council is grateful for the community groups who are working to clear waste and helping their fellow residents during this challenging time.
‘Since the injunction was ratified we have been able to deploy all our available fleet meaning we have cleared the backlog and are able to implement our contingency plan.
‘Residents of Birmingham want and deserve a better waste collection service and the restructure that Unite is opposing is part of the much-needed transformation of the service.
‘The council remains committed to resolving the industrial action in the best interest of all parties involved.’