Birmingham has seen a surge in overflowing wheelie bins and piles of black bags cluttering the streets lately. This unsightly mess is a result of intermittent strikes by refuse collectors since January, leaving the city in disarray. The chaos has attracted animals like rats, who have taken advantage of the situation and feasted on the discarded waste.
Residents in some areas of Birmingham have reported that bins have not been collected since mid-February, exacerbating the problem further. Abu Shah, a shop owner in Ward End, expressed his concerns about the situation, noting that people are resorting to leaving their bins in random places which has led to rat infestations. Teddy Smith, a resident of Digbeth, described the situation as “horrific,” highlighting the growing rat population in the area.
The strike has prompted a spike in calls to pest control specialists, like William Timms from WJ Pest Solutions, whose workload has increased by 75%. Timms emphasized that rats are invading properties due to the overflowing bins being left unattended. With the escalation of the strike to an indefinite all-out strike, concerns about the vermin issue continue to grow. Residents are hoping for a resolution soon to alleviate the current sanitation crisis that Birmingham is facing.
Despite the ongoing dispute between the council and the union Unite over proposed staff downgrades and pay cuts, both parties are urged to come to an agreement for the sake of Birmingham’s residents. Unite has expressed its dismay over potential staff losses, while the council argues that the impact on staff will be minimal. As the strike persists, the city grapples with the aftermath of refuse piling up, leading to unsanitary conditions and a surge in rat infestations
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
