Rubbish Piles Up in UK City Streets Attracting Rats; Strike Blamed

A UK city’s streets are filled with trash. Industrial action caused this problem, and stray animals are scavenging through the rubbish. Residents fear this situation harms their health.

The date is February 10, 2025. Rubbish collectors are on strike, protesting pay cuts. The strike lasts seven days initially, with another 24 days of action planned.

Birmingham areas are affected, including Balsall Heath and Small Heath. Recycling collections are often skipped, and businesses report no waste collection in three weeks. Trash spills onto the streets as a result.

Food scraps attract cats, foxes, and rats. Furniture and doors add to the piles. Mazar Dad works for a charity and worries about the situation’s worsening state. He believes a proper staff structure is critical.

He believes wage cuts are unreasonable. Residents worry about health problems, and Matei Ciobanu is concerned for his baby. Large rats are now a significant issue. He wants a solution and cleanup.

The council cut around 150 workers’ pay. The Waste Recycling Officer role got scrapped, causing pay cuts as high as £8,000. Birmingham City Council has yet to comment.