Birmingham declares major incident over bin strike as piles of waste grow

Council leader says situation causing ‘harm and distress’ with 17,000 tonnes of rubbish uncollected

Members of Unite on the picket line in Tyseley, Birmingham, amid an ongoing refuse workers' strike in the city. Birmingham City Council says it is declaring a major incident over the impact of the ongoing bin strike, as it estimates 17,000 tonnes of waste remains uncollected around the city. Picture: Jacob King/PA Wire

Birmingham city council has declared a major incident over an ongoing bin strike, saying the daily blocking of depots by picket lines means vehicles are unable to pick up 17,000 tonnes of uncollected rubbish across the city.

The council said it was unable to carry out its contingency plan due to striking workers blocking lorries on the picket line, and that there was now a risk to public health.