Huge changes to Birmingham bin collections are on their way and could be introduced for some residents by April. The crisis-hit city council’s plans to transform waste collection has been described as a key part of its recovery plan and aim to significantly reduce costs.
Last year, the authority proposed moving from a weekly to a fortnightly collection of residual waste as part of an unprecedented budget which sparked dismay for many Brummies. Now a council report has confirmed the change will be introduced on a ‘phased basis’ from April 2025.
A weekly food waste collection service will also be brought in as well as a second recycling bin which would be used by residents specifically for paper and card. “The introduction of these new services and containers will be on a phased roll out across the 69 wards commencing in April 2025,” it said.
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“The current schedule plans to be completed by the end of November and will be done on a ward-by-ward basis”. The schedule, found below, shows areas served by the Perry Barr depot are set to be the first to see the new changes introduced between April and June.
It means the collection of residual waste could become fortnightly in the Sutton Mere Green and Sutton Four Oaks wards in around three months’ time. Areas served by the Lifford depot, such as Longbridge and West Heath, Northfield, Allens Cross and Frankley Great Park, may not see these changes until later this year in November.
Coun Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment and transport, previously said the changes would provide Brummies “with a better waste collection service that is in line with other councils”. “I know some residents are concerned about moving to a fortnightly residual waste service, but this will not be introduced until we have the food waste collections, meaning people will have less general waste,” he said.
”There will be a phased introduction and we will be communicating all the changes to residents.” He said during a cabinet meeting last year that residents who could not accommodate an extra recycling bin would be offered a reusable sack.
Cllr Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment
The council agreed to a wave of proposed cuts, and the move to a fortnightly residual waste service, last year after facing Birmingham-specific issues, such as an equal pay fiasco and the disastrous implementation of a new IT and finance system, as well as other factors such as the rising demand for services and funding cuts.
The council’s planned schedule for when these changes to bin collections are set to be introduced can be found below:
Depot // Ward
April
Perry Barr // Sutton Mere GreenPerry Barr // Sutton Four Oaks
May
Perry Barr // Sutton RoughleyPerry Barr // Sutton TrinityPerry Barr // Sutton ReddicapPerry Barr // Sutton VeseyPerry Barr // Sutton Wylde GreenPerry Barr // Sutton Walmley & MinworthPerry Barr // Castle ValePerry Barr // Pype HayesPerry Barr // Gravelly HillPerry Barr // ErdingtonPerry Barr // Stockland GreenPerry Barr // Perry Common
June
Perry Barr // KingstandingPerry Barr // OscottPerry Barr // Perry BarrPerry Barr // Handsworth WoodPerry Barr // BirchfieldPerry Barr // HandsworthAtlas/Perry Barr // HolyheadAtlas/Perry Barr // LozellsAtlas/Perry Barr // AstonAtlas // Soho & Jewellery QuarterAtlas // Newtown
July
Atlas // LadywoodAtlas // NechellsAtlas // Alum RockAtlas // Ward EndAtlas // Bromford & Hodge HillAtlas // Shard EndAtlas // Glebe Farm & Tile CrossAtlas // Garretts GreenAtlas // Yardley East
August
Atlas // Yardley West & StechfordAtlas // HeartlandsAtlas // Bordesley & HighgateAtlas // Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath EastAtlas // Bordesley GreenAtlas // Small HeathAtlas // Tyseley & Hay MillsAtlas // South YardleyAtlas // SheldonAtlas // Acocks GreenAtlas // Hall Green North
September
Atlas // Hall Green SouthAtlas // SparkhillAtlas // MoseleyAtlas/Lifford // Balsall Heath WestAtlas/Lifford // Brandwood & King’s HeathAtlas/Lifford // North EdgbastonLifford // BillesleyLifford // Bournbrook & Selly Park
October
Lifford // Druids Heath & MonyhullLifford // EdgbastonLifford // Highter’s HeathLifford // StirchleyLifford // QuintonLifford // HarborneLifford // Bartley GreenLifford // Weoley & Selly OakLifford // Bournville & Cotteridge
November
Lifford // King’s Norton North
Lifford // King’s Norton South
Lifford // Longbridge & West HeathLifford // NorthfieldLifford // Allens CrossLifford // Frankley Great ParkLifford // Rubery & Rednal