Shocking photos show how "nightmare" fly-tipping has become "out of control" in Birmingham as it emerged the bin strikes could last until next SPRING."

The union Unite said striking workers have voted to extend industrial action past Christmas to March 2026 - marking a year since the strike began.

Stark images shows how mountains of bin liners and tonnes of dumped rubbish are still littered across many suburbs eight months into the dispute.



Business owners say fly-tipping issues have become "out of control" while some residents feel like they are living in "Third World" conditions. "

Other fed-up locals have reported maggots crawling around inside their wheelie bins with no end in sight to the long-running saga blighting the city.

Sal Watts, 34, a musician from Moseley, Birmingham, said: "It is an absolute scandal that this hasn't been resolved yet."

"If it happened in London, they would have sorted it within days. This is the longest running strike I can ever recall and it has left us living in Third World conditions."

"I'm ashamed to have friends and family who don't live here come and visit me, because it is just an embarrassment. "

"The fly-tipping is out of control too, the place has become lawless and the council cannot cope."

Liam Burgess, 41, of Hockley, Birmingham, added: "The recycling hasn't been collected for months now but you feel guilty just dumping it among general waste."

"I've had maggots in my bins, that is how grim it has become."

Dave Hughes, who owns a steel business in Saltley, said the problem of fly-tipping had become a "nightmare" and he'd been forced to clear some himself."

He said: "It's just been relentless. "

"Since the Birmingham Wheels site closed down and was sold to Birmingham City FC, you've got a secluded road on an industrial estate that people just use to dump rubbish with little to no consequences."

"I've had to move huge piles on the forklift just to gain access to and from my business - but the council do nothing about it to help. "

"My driver was abused when he caught some lads in the act, they basically told him to jog on unless he knew what was good for him, they just don't care."

He claimed businesses were being neglected and added: "If the council are charging hundreds of pounds to receive a commercial waste vehicle you can understand why people are just going to keep doing this."

"I guess they are struggling with this problem all over the city now with the strikes going on."

"They are just playing whack-a-mole - once they clamp down on fly-tipping in one place, they will just move to the next."

"The problem is, that doesn't seem to be happening here and its my business which suffers as a result."

Paulette Hamilton, Labour MP for Erdington, told the BBC she was "greatly concerned" about fly tipping across Birmingham."

She added: "It's unsightly because people are dumping rubbish on top of rubbish even though it's illegal, and the council are trying to move it as quickly as they can but sometimes just not quickly enough."

Unite said the strikes have continued after claiming the government appointed commissioners in Birmingham scuppered a deal that would have ended the dispute.

A spokesman for Unite said: "Talks brokered by the conciliation service ACAS in May and led by the council's chief executive Joanne Roney agreed a 'ball park' deal which would have ended the dispute."

"However, Ms Roney latterly advised that she could not get the deal past the commissioners, so it is clear therefore that there is no point at this stage having further negotiations with the council. "

"The ball is in the government's court."

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham added: "Throughout this dispute the government has denied any involvement. "

"It is now clear that commissioners reporting to Angela Rayner blocked a ball park deal thrashed out at ACAS. "

"The recent amendment by the government to the Employment Rights Bill, that allows councils in debt to fire and rehire their workers shows what is really going on here."

"Council workers are being lined up to pay the price for years of austerity."

"There is no point at this stage negotiating further with the council as they do not have authority to resolve the dispute."

"If Labour cannot see what is happening in Birmingham is wrong, it is little wonder workers are turning away from them in droves."

The union said Birmingham's bin workers voted 99.5 per cent in favour of strike action with a turnout of 72 per cent.

The workers began intermittent strike action in January and indefinite strike action in March.

Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab said: "Strike action will continue for as long as necessary with Unite's unyielding support."

"Politicians' treatment of these workers, including lies about no one losing pay and broken promises about being able to retrain in driving roles that are now nowhere to be seen, is amongst the worst Unite has even seen."

"The only way this dispute will end is with a fair and reasonable deal for Birmingham's bin workers."

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson added: "This is a service that needs to be transformed to one that citizens of Birmingham deserve and we cannot delay this any longer."

"The council sought to be reasonable and flexible throughout this process, but Unite rejected all our offers."

"We want to resolve this dispute but we need to press ahead with the improvement of the service."

"Our contingency plan is working and we are collecting household waste as scheduled, though for clarity this ballot was not about any new negotiations or offers, but is part of Unite's practice of refreshing their mandates for industrial action at regular periods during a dispute."

Councillor Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment and transport, said the council was "determined" to find and prosecute the culprits behind the fly-tipping in Saltley."

He added: "Fly-tipping is a blight on our communities and a serious criminal offence. "

"We will not tolerate individuals who think they can profit by dumping waste illegally and leaving the clean-up costs to taxpayers."

"Since January this year, we have served 347 Fixed Penalty Notices for fly tipping incidents. "

"Fines are of £1,000 for abandoning waste, and we will report incidents to the courts to consider an increased fine when necessary. "

"In addition we have seized 15 vehicles in the same period."

"We are committed to protecting our neighbourhoods and the environment. "

"Illegal dumping not only scars our streets and green spaces, but it also poses health risks and undermines the hard work of residents who take pride in their communities."

Bulky waste collections are currently suspended and residents are encouraged to take their bulky waste to the tip or mobile recycling centres.