Birmingham residents are reporting "giant rats" and mountains of uncollected rubbish as the city grapples with an escalating waste crisis caused by bin worker strikes.
Streets across the city have been transformed into "stinking makeshift dumps" as refuse collectors continue their industrial action, with festering piles of waste attracting vermin and causing health concerns among locals.
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The dispute erupted after Birmingham City Council scrapped the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role, resulting in pay cuts of up to £8,000 for 150 workers.
The strikes, which have already seen seven walkouts, are set to continue until April 4.
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Birmingham bin workers striking over pay cutsGB NewsA total of 31 action dates have been scheduled, threatening to worsen the city's waste management crisis.
The impact is particularly severe in Balsall Heath and Small Heath, where locals report businesses haven't received waste collection for three weeks.
Mazar Dad, 56, from the Mecc Trust charity, described mounting problems outside his Balsall Heath office: "We have a massive pile up outside our building. There's rubbish everywhere outside on the streets."
"The stench is ridiculous. People come in and say how bad it is," he added.
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A total of 31 action dates have been scheduled, threatening to worsen the city's waste management crisis
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Pharmacy manager Shazad Nazam, 47, reported widespread rat activity in the affected areas.
"There's always rats in the area, where we park our cars, you can see rat droppings," he said.
The situation has severely impacted local businesses. "It's the third week where they haven't come. We've got a mountain of cardboard outside our shop," Nazam added.
Local resident Matei Ciobanu, 24, expressed grave concerns about his newborn's health amid the deteriorating conditions.
"I have a new baby and I fear for her health around here. It's grim," he said.
The dispute erupted after Birmingham City Council scrapped the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role
Getty"People are using it like a dump and the rats you see, some of them are enormous, just huge. They need to come to an agreement and clean this up."
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has strongly condemned the pay cuts, stating: "There is no justification for such huge pay cuts to workers' wages."
"Birmingham council cannot just ignore this situation and hope that it will go away," she warned.
Graham emphasised the union's support: "It is a line in the sand for our members, who know more attacks will follow if they don't fight back. Unite is with them 100 per cent."
Birmingham City Council has been approached for comment on the ongoing crisis.
The situation continues to deteriorate as uncollected waste attracts scavenging animals, with stray cats and foxes reportedly tearing open refuse bags in search of food.
Local charity workers report that the mounting rubbish is encouraging further fly-tipping in affected areas.
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