Retirees sort rotting waste amid bin strike

People living in a retirement complex have said they had to sort out rotting waste after missed bin collections amid Birmingham's long-running strike.

Kay Friday, from Tudor Court retirement complex in Sutton Coldfield, said they acted after rubbish built up for four weeks, blocking their disposal chute.

"It was just a sea of waste and some of it was seeping out of the bags and it was so disgusting," she said.

Meanwhile, in Bordesley Green a public meeting calling for an end to the strike will take place at 19:00 BST on Tuesday as the industrial action enters its third month.

Birmingham City Council said it had made a "fair and reasonable offer" and remained committed to resolving the dispute, but Unite union said members still sought an "acceptable offer".

On-and-off action began on 6 January, with an indefinite all-out strike starting 11 March.

Last week Unite said the strike could last until December, after members voted to continue industrial action.

Ms Friday said the situation was "not fair on the older, vulnerable residents" at the complex of about 50 flats, which included people aged in their 80s and 90s.

"We're worried every single week, are our three bins, which are chock-a-block by then... going to be collected?"

She said they contacted the council to collect the mounting rubbish and after a delay it was removed last Thursday.

Prior to this, the chute which takes waste to the ground floor storage area became blocked.

Ms Friday said: "The state it was in - all three bins were full to overflowing so myself and my sister and a couple of the residents came in, we got a step ladder in, we went into that bin and we had to just keep fishing it out so that they could use the chute."

"It did smell. Well I came in and I mean there were flies buzzing around and it was pretty horrific. It was a mixture of rotting ordinary waste together with the medical waste."

She added they had to close the chute for a time and elderly residents had to take rubbish to the room via a lift.

Shafaq Hussain has organised the meeting at St Pauls Church, Bordesley Green, later and hopes to hear from a range of people affected.

He added: "We have just recently had Eid and some of the inner city areas are really piling up with lots of rubbish."

Mr Hussain said he was part of a group which had asked the council and union for details and reasons behind "the stalemate" in resolutions.

Negotiations to end the strike are continuing.

"The council recognises the significant impact that industrial action has had on the people and communities of Birmingham," the local authority said.

"The council remains committed to resolving the industrial action in the best interest of all parties involved."

And the union said it was still looking for an "acceptable offer".

"Unite understands residents' frustration but the responsibility for the dispute lies with the council.

"The only written proposal the council has ever put forward came two weeks ago, after sixth months of strike action and was not in line with the ballpark offer discussed during Acas talks in May."

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