Birmingham's bin strikes have been causing a huge pile-up of rubbish for the city's residents, which is being made worse by fly-tipping, people have claimed. Locals have described the strong smell coming from the build up of waste as well as the 'cat-sized' rats that the rubbish is attracting. Since the beginning of the strike, an estimated 17,000 tonnes of rubbish has rremained uncollected.

Collections haven't taken place since March 11, meaning residents have been left with piles of bin bags in front of their homes. The problem is only being made worse, says LBC reorter George Icke, by people who are taking the opportunity to use this bin crisis for fly-tipping, which involves illegally dumping of waste such as hosuehold products like fridges and ovens. A number of fly-tipping incidents have been reported in Birmingham over the last year, with the problem seemingly escalating due to the ongoing strike.

One man has been charged after he fly-tipped a huge pile of rubbish in the same place six times in a week. He was caught by Birmingham's Clean Air Zone when he was recorded making repeat trips to the site at Little Edward Street in Digbeth in March last year.

Meanwhile, a map released earlier this year shows the reality of fly-tipping in 2025, an issue that seems to be impacting most areas of Birmingham.

Amid the ongoing strike, PM Sir Keir Starmer despatched local government minister Jim McMahon to the city to meet council leaders and demand they agree a deal with union Unite, which represents striking bin workers. "We want to see an agreement reached immediately," a spokesperson for the Prime Minister said.

MPs have claimed that there is evidence that people with respiratory conditions are suffering as a result of the build-up of rubbish. There is also concern about children forced to walk through mounds of rotting rubbish on the way to school as warm weather makes the stench worse.

It is estimated that 900 tonnes of rubbish is being added to the existing build-up every day as the strike continues. Birmingham City Council revealed that the clean-up after the strike ends will take weeks.

"It will take us a fortnight, possibly three/four weeks, to try and get us back to where we should be in terms of the delivery of the service for the people.

"But after that, it’ll take us at least three/four weeks to get the clean-up of the city as to where we want it to be," said Majid Mahmood, the councillor in charge of waste collection.