The new coalition of Lib Dem, Green & Independents running Birmingham Council since 6th June have said that their top priority is to re-start the household recycling collection. BFOE members and allies have been calling for this for two years. The coalition has agreed that the system will be the one planned by the Council last December: it will be fortnightly alternating rubbish and recycling collection, with separate weekly food waste collection. The recent pilot of food waste went okay, we understand, and there is a contract in place to digest and produce bio-gas. Lib Dems, Greens and Independents have backed this change, although the Conservatives were opposed. It is the system used by many other local authorities, where it gives a much higher recycling rate. There will be additional street cleaning and enforcement against fly-tipping.
The Council is moving fast, with the new system starting from 6th July across North Birmingham, letters going to every household, with the intention of learning lessons then applying it to the rest of the city by the end of 2026. Separately, negotiations are to re-start with the UNITE union, concerning their compensation and role in the new system. There is now a clear direction; wastes should to go to the right places. The Council can stop “disposing” of waste into the environment, and plan instead for reduce, reuse, recycle or rot.
For more information, please check out the council website,
You could also contact your councillor supporting these changes.
