Birmingham is facing a mounting crisis as a ten-week-long bin strike plunges the city into chaos, with no resolution in sight. Unions have now declared the strike indefinite unless a settlement is reached, leaving residents overwhelmed by mounting rubbish and a worsening public health hazard.

“It’s horrendous,” said Tim Huxtable, a Conservative Birmingham City Council councillor. “Local residents feel it’s really affecting their mental health, not knowing when their waste and recycling will be collected. It’s all-encompassing and really getting everyone down.” He told Sky News: “The only thing flourishing in Birmingham at the moment is our rats, they’ve become the size of cats.”

Grahame Turner, technical manager at the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA), has issued a stark warning about the growing health hazards posed by uncollected waste.

“This is a huge public health danger, and what we’re seeing in Birmingham is incredibly concerning,” he warned.

“Pests like rats, mice and even squirrels are on the lookout for easy meals at this time of year, and easily accessible waste is an open invitation. Rotting food is an absolute banquet to them, and Birmingham is already extremely vulnerable due to previous strikes and infestation levels of rodents that are observed within urban areas.”

Turner advised residents to take uncollected waste to a tip whenever possible to mitigate risks.

He further cautioned that once rodents arrive to feast on overflowing bins, they could spread into homes and businesses, seeking warmth, shelter, and additional food sources.

“Rodents aren’t just a nuisance, they can pose serious health risks to you and your family,” Turner said. “Rats and mice are known to carry diseases such as leptospirosis, hantavirus, and salmonella, which can spread through their droppings, urine, and even by contaminating food supplies.”

The strike stems from a tangled web of financial woes and policy failures. Birmingham City Council was declared effectively bankrupt following multi-million-pound equal pay judgements. However, some blame private bin collection firms for exacerbating the situation.

The solution, experts say, is straightforward but difficult, more funding. But with councils facing tighter budgets in the coming years, finding the necessary cash remains a challenge.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) recently highlighted the financial pressure on local authorities:

“Overall, 2025 will continue the trend of substantial above-inflation increases in funding for English councils. Unfortunately, their costs have also been outpacing inflation, and with a tighter outlook for funding from central government looming from 2026 onwards, tackling the demand and cost drivers impacting councils’ budgets is becoming increasingly urgent.”

A poll from Sky News suggested mounting discontent with the government’s economic management. In July, 44% of the public felt the government was handling the economy poorly, a figure that has since soared to 68%.

Despite the crisis, polling indicates that the public does not necessarily support reckless spending. While 8% believe Reeves has been too cautious, 43% think she has been too reckless.