Chaos erupted in Birmingham yesterday as desperate residents swarmed a bin lorry amid ongoing strikes by refuse collectors.
The scene in the affluent Mosely suburb became so frantic that a local councillor called police to restore order.
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West Midlands Police confirmed two people have been arrested this week in connection with the industrial action.
The strikes, which escalated from a series of one-day walkouts to an all-out strike last Tuesday, have reportedly led to rats "the size of cats" infesting the city as rubbish piles mount.
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West Midlands Police confirmed two people have been arrested this week in connection with the industrial action
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A bin lorry which is in a single location that allows residents whose bins aren't being collected to drop their rubbish off was swarmed by desperate residents.
One observer called the scene "binmageddon", with citizens arriving in cars filled with black bags of rubbish.
People were seen rushing down streets to the wagon carrying multiple bags, according to the BBC.
Others ran down the middle of the road with their wheelie bins, desperate to unload them.
Cars loaded with rubbish parked in the neighbourhood as police yelled at people not to dump their waste in the street.
Officers eventually called the collection off early as tempers flared and the lorry reached capacity.
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A cat sits amongst uncollected refuse bags in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham
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Unite Union has warned that bin disruption could stretch into the summer
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Nearly 400 council bin workers in Birmingham began indefinite strike action last week in a dispute over jobs and pay.
The Unite union says its members face pay cuts after the scrapping of waste collection and recycling officer roles.
Labour-run Birmingham City Council insists its offer is "fair and reasonable" and disputes Unite's claims that 150 workers could lose £8,000 per year.
The council says plans to restructure the service are crucial as it attempts to save £300m over two years, having effectively declared itself bankrupt in September 2023.
The authority outlined plans last month to cut £148million from this year's budget.
The build-up of refuse has created serious public health concerns across the city.
Pest control experts have warned the situation poses "a huge public health danger" with rotting food providing "an absolute banquet" for pests.
The rat infestation has become so severe that rodents have been dubbed the "Squeaky Blinders" because they appear to have the city in their grip.
The build-up of refuse has created serious public health concerns across the city
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Labour-run Birmingham City Council insists its offer is "fair and reasonable" and disputes Unite's claims that 150 workers could lose £8,000 per year
PAWhen reporters visited the Sparkbrook neighbourhood, they found one dead rodent measuring more than a foot long.
A local resident remarked: "Trust me, that's not a big one. We get them much bigger!"
Kazia Bi, a 40-year-old resident, told the Daily Mail that piles of rubbish remained outside properties along her road.
"Cars from other areas turned up yesterday and the drivers were dropping off their rubbish. It meant I couldn't get rid of my own refuse," she said.
Another resident, Hafeeza, complained: "People who aren't residents are parking up and leaving rubbish outside of my house."
West Midlands Police said they "have a duty to keep people safe and ensure the road is clear and safe to use."
Unite has warned bin disruption could stretch into the summer after workers voted to extend their strike mandate.
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