Bulky waste collections could return as part of bin shake-up

Collections of bulky household waste, such as old furniture and mattresses, could return to Birmingham as part of the council's plans to overhaul its bin service.

The service was suspended in 2025 during the bin strike. A new council report says it should come back if councillors approve rolling out the changes to waste collection across the city.

"It is proposed"

"It is proposed that bulky waste collections should also be introduced if a recommendation is approved to proceed with the rollout of changes to waste collection across the city," the report says.

It gives no date, but says bringing the service back could help reduce fly-tipping.

The bigger changes

The council ran two pilots this year. In the north of the city, general rubbish moved from weekly to fortnightly collections, with a second recycling bin and a weekly food waste collection. In the second pilot, in the Hodge Hill and Bromford, Moseley, Kings Norton South and Stirchley wards, weekly rubbish collections were kept.

A report has found the first pilot "performed more favourably", recycling more and costing less to run, but the final decision rests with the cabinet.

"Part of cleaning up Birmingham"

Councillor Harris Khaliq, the cabinet member for city operations, said in the summer that bringing back garden and bulky waste collections was "on the administration's radar".

"It's a part of cleaning up Birmingham," he said. "I would love to bring back bulky waste, it was something put into our commitments, it's something I'm still comfortable we're able to deliver."

He said the new service, if approved, would be backed by "extra clean-up measures and new investment into enforcement so we can all do our bit to keep the city clean".

What to do with bulky items now

While the collection service is suspended, residents can take large items to the city's household recycling centres, and the council's website lists opening times and what each site accepts. Good-quality furniture can often be donated to charity shops or reuse projects, several of which collect items for free.

Anyone paying someone to take waste away should check they hold a waste carrier's licence, which can be done online through the Environment Agency. If waste from a home is found fly-tipped, the householder can be fined, even if they paid someone else to dispose of it.

A costly problem

Fly-tipping is expensive for councils to clear up, and Birmingham has been one of the worst-affected areas during the long-running bin dispute. Bulky items such as sofas and mattresses are among the most commonly dumped, which is why campaigners and councillors have long argued that an affordable collection service helps keep streets clean.