BIRMINGHAM: update on garden and bulky waste collections
Birmingham City Council is making changes to bin collections, despite ongoing strikes.
The new leadership at Birmingham Council has said the return of garden and bulky waste collections are ‘on their radar’ – but residents may have to be patient.
The council’s administration – a coalition of Lib Dems, Greens and various independents – has confirmed that it is going ahead with major plans to transform the city’s waste collection service.
The package of changes being brought in include the collection of household rubbish going from weekly to fortnightly; a second recycling bin and a food waste collection.
The changes are set to be rolled out across the city area by area over the coming months, starting with a pilot in the northern areas served by the Perry Barr depot from tomorrow (June 30) onwards.
This Tuesday will see new bins being delivered to certain households and collections within the new service will start from next Monday, July 6.
The council has also said recycling collections will be reintroduced in phases alongside these changes.
But when other key services could return, such as garden and bulky waste, is less clear.
These services, along with recycling collections, were suspended in 2025 as the ongoing bins strike took a toll of the council’s ability to collect waste.
Councillor Harris Khaliq, cabinet member for city operations and digital, was asked today whether it was the plan to reintroduce garden and bulky waste collections soon.
“These are things all on the administration’s radar,” he said. “It’s a part of cleaning up Birmingham.
“I would love to bring back bulky waste, it was something put into our commitments, it’s something I’m still comfortable we’re able to deliver.”
But he acknowledged the return of garden and bulky waste could be part of a future ‘package’ further down the line in the coming years, rather than part of the rollout starting tomorrow.
“As we go deliver the waste transformation, one of the things in the package for year two, three or four would be bringing back bulky waste collections,” he said.
“But it’s something I’m confident that we’ll be able to deliver.”
Coun Khaliq also described the changes coming this year as “exciting” and said in a statement last Friday: “One of our key commitments as the council’s new administration is to clean up this fantastic city.
“This is why it’s essential for the changes in relation to waste collection to go ahead, supported by additional measures.
“We are initially piloting the improved service in order to gather data and feedback so we can make informed decisions on what works best for residents.”
He continued: “We want residents to have the best waste service and the new improved service will mean more waste capacity.
“People getting the new service will be getting a weekly food waste collection, following the successful pilot, and a second recycling bin.
“This means that all that will be left for the fortnightly general waste collection will be whatever can’t be recycled – so the waste that causes the most concern, such as smelly food leftovers, will be collected weekly.
“All this will be supported with parallel activity taking place including extra clean-up measures and new investment into enforcement so we can all do our bit to keep the city clean.”
Residents are urged to check out the changes to your waste collection page on the council’s website to see how they are affected.