Staffordshire council to help clear rubbish from Birmingham's streets as bin worker strikes continue

The local authority has confirmed it will send crews out into the city from Wednesday (April 9) to help clean up waste as members of the Unite union continue to walk out in dispute with Birmingham City Council over pay and job losses.

The rubbish collections will be made following a "request for help" including from the Government, Lichfield District Council said.

A council spokesman said: "Following the declaration of a major incident the Lichfield District & Tamworth Borough councils’ joint waste service has agreed to help clear rubbish from the streets of Birmingham.

"The request for help came from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Birmingham City Council.    

"The collections, commencing tomorrow, Wednesday, April 9, will utilise a spare truck and then at the weekend, trucks not normally in operation.

"Our operatives are assisting on their rest days, no collections across Lichfield District or Tamworth Borough will be affected and the costs will be recovered from the Government and Birmingham City Council."

Birmingham City Council declared a major incident last week amid rising concerns of risks to public health as the industrial action, which began on March 11, rumbles on.

Overflowing bins and huge piles of rubbish have become a common sight in the city, with some residents comparing it to a "war zone" and "third world city".

Speaking upon declaring the major incident on March 31, Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton said: “It’s regrettable we have had to take this step.

“But we cannot tolerate a situation that is causing harm and distress to communities across Birmingham.

“Unless we declare a major incident and deploy the waste service’s contingency plan, then we would be unable to clear the backlog of waste on the streets or improve the frequency of collections.”