Bin strikes delay paid-for garden waste service

The start of Birmingham's garden waste collection service has been delayed despite some subscribers having already paid for the scheme.

The seasonal service, which costs users £61.80, was due to return from next week for those who paid the fee.

But ongoing bin strikes and the threat of all-out industrial action from Unite union members from next month has seen the scheme delayed.

Birmingham City Council said it is not taking on any new customers for the service and that it would contact those who had already paid "in due course".

"Unfortunately, due to the increased level of strike action by Unite the union announced this week, it is with regret that we will be unable to begin garden waste collections on Monday 3 March as planned," a spokesperson said.

The council said residents could visit the city's tips if they had garden waste to dispose of.

It has extended opening hours during the period of industrial action, which is over pay and conditions.

The move comes after Unite said on Thursday that bin strikes in the city could go on for months this summer.

The union said workers would move to all-out strikes from 11 March.

In a statement, Birmingham City Council said the escalation would lead to "greater disruption to residents, despite the fair and reasonable offer that the council made to the union".

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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