Birmingham bin collections
Strike action by Unite the Union is still disrupting Birmingham's bins. Blue lid recycling collections are suspended, garden waste is off until further notice, and new bulky waste bookings are paused. The grey lid rubbish bin is still being collected.
Trial collections in north Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield
Since July 2026, part of north Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield has been on a trial service. Food waste goes weekly in a brown outdoor caddy, with a grey caddy for the kitchen. Recycling is back every two weeks, split between the blue-lid bin (glass, plastic and metal) and a new green-lid bin for paper and card that replaces the old pods. The grey-lid rubbish bin went to every two weeks, on the opposite week to recycling.
The council writes to each household before its service changes. No letter means nothing has changed for you yet. Wards that may be included: Aston, Birchfield, Castle Vale, Erdington, Gravelly Hill, Handsworth, Handsworth Wood, Holyhead, Kingstanding, Lozells, Oscott, Perry Barr, Perry Common, Pype Hayes, Stockland Green, and the Sutton wards of Four Oaks, Mere Green, Reddicap, Roughley, Trinity, Vesey, Walmley and Minworth, and Wylde Green.
On the trial, bins go out before 5:30am but not before 3:30pm the day before, and come back in by midday the day after. Whether it goes citywide hasn't been decided yet.
Outside the trial area, the council's collection day page still says blue-lid recycling is suspended during the Unite industrial action, and the grey-lid bin goes out on your normal day. That page was last updated in July, so check it before you give up on recycling.
Which bin is which in Birmingham
If your grey lid bin is missed, leave it out. Bins need to be at the kerb by 6am.
Garden waste collection
Suspended until further notice because of the strike.
Weekly food waste collection
Weekly, but only in the pilot areas. You get a grey caddy for the kitchen and a brown one for outside, and replacements are free through your BRUM account.
Report a missed bin
For general waste, wait until after 1.30pm on collection day before reporting. A missed collection should be rearranged within two working days.
Bulky waste collection from £49.50
£49.50 for up to ten items, with two bin bags counting as one item. New bookings are paused while the strike goes on. The bulky waste phone line is 0121 303 1112.
Get told the night before
Binformation is a free Android app. Put your postcode in once and it sends a notification the evening before each collection, saying which bins are going. If the council moves your day for a bank holiday, the reminder moves with it.
Nearby councils
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page was read from the council's own website, last checked on 26 October 2026. Councils change prices each April, so check the link before you pay for anything.
- Collection changes: birmingham.gov.uk
- Garden waste: birmingham.gov.uk
- Food waste: birmingham.gov.uk
- Missed bins: birmingham.gov.uk
- Bulky waste: birmingham.gov.uk
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