Report a missed bin or sack collection

Potential disruption due to industrial action 

There is currently industrial action by Unite the Union. We expect some disruption but will try to minimise this.  

Put your household waste (grey lid) bin out on your normal collection day.  If it is not collected, leave it out and we will collect it as soon as we can.  Recycling collections are suspended every day during industrial action so do not put your recycling bin (blue lid) out for collection.

You might find it useful to:

We continue to work with Unite to try and resolve the dispute as soon as possible. 

Why your waste has not been collected

We may have missed your street or house. This may have been because:

  • your street was blocked
  • there were road closures, and we could not reach your street
  • we had staff shortages
  • other service disruption

To see if your street's collection has been missed, check the Missed Collections directory.

You may not have put your bins out in time. Check your collection day.

Your bins may have contained:

  • items which are not allowed
  • recycling that was not properly separated
  • recycling that was not clean

We call this "contaminated". If your waste is contaminated, there will be a tag on your bin to say this.

Check what we accept in general waste bins, recycling bins and garden bins.

When you can report a missed collection

You can report a missed collection after 1:30pm on the day it should have been collected. Before 1:30pm, we are still out collecting waste and may arrive to pick it up.

You cannot report a missed collection if:

  • your bin has been marked as contaminated
  • you forgot to put it out

Report your missed bin or sack collection

Report your missed bin or sack collection

You must sign in to your BRUM account to report the missed collection. If you do not have a BRUM account, you will have to create one.

You will receive a confirmation email from us, and we will aim to collect your bin within 2 working days. We will not contact you again if we cannot complete this collection.

What you should do with your bins now

After you have reported your missed collection

Leave your bins out. If we can rearrange your collection, we will do so within 2 working days.

Put your bins back on your property if we do not collect them within 2 working days. We will collect them at the next collection date.

If you have too much waste to fit in the bin at the next collection

We will collect a reasonable amount of extra general waste at your next collection. You can leave bin bags next to your wheelie bin.

If you have too much cardboard recycling, you can leave this in a neat pile next to your recycling bin. We will always collect cardboard left by your bin, even if we have not missed your previous collection.

What to do with contaminated waste

If your waste has not been collected because it is contaminated, you can:

  • remove the incorrect waste content. For example, if you put bricks in your general waste, take them out
  • sort out your recycling waste into the separate groups
  • make sure your waste recycling is clean

Check what we accept in general waste bins, recycling bins and garden bins.

Once you have sorted the problem, you can put your bin out for your next collection.

How you can get rid of waste yourself

You can take it to a Household Recycling Centre (HRC).

Report other types of missed waste collections

Report a missed clinical waste collection

To report a missed bulky waste collection, phone 0121 303 1112.

Page last updated: 6 February 2025

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