New waste service set to rollout next year
Birmingham residents can expect food waste collections from next summer, as the council reveals plans for a new, greener, more reliable waste service.
Proposed to start rolling out in June 2026, the transformed service will include the weekly food waste collection and a second recycling bin, with recycling rates expected to exceed 30 per cent initially.
Historically the service has not been good enough, with a high level of missed collections and one of the lowest recycling rates in the country. This must change.
While the ongoing industrial action has delayed the implementation of the new service, the intention is to begin the rollout in June 2026 regardless of the strike situation.
Subject to cabinet approval, the rollout will be on a phased basis, with around 20,000 residents transferring to the new service in fortnightly blocks. There will be comprehensive communications and engagement with residents to ensure households know what is happening on their street and when.
Cllr Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “Residents will see a real difference with the new service. We have already made some changes, with our new council-owned fleet fully operational – there is less reliance on hired vehicles, improved reliability and better consistency in collections. Our crews have the tools they need to deliver a more reliable, efficient service while also supporting the city’s environmental goals, benefiting both residents and staff.
“The transformed service will bring Birmingham into line with other councils, improve recycling rates and provide a service our residents need and deserve.”
Despite the ongoing industrial action and the initial disruption, the contingency plan is working and productivity has improved, with fewer complaints than prior to the strike; there has been a 52% improvement rate on missed collections and a 22% improvement on tonnage collected per employee.
In addition to improved productivity, new arrangements are in place to monitor the quality of services as well as training for staff and managers. In readiness for the new waste service rollout, over 1,100 new routes and rounds have been developed using the latest live property data. New safer, greener and cleaner modern vehicles have been deployed around the city, and new professional uniforms have been introduced.
The report will go to cabinet on 9 December.
