Rats ‘Bigger Than Cats’ Take Over Birmingham as Garbage Strike Drags On
Birmingham, the United Kingdom’s second-largest city, is battling a shocking rat infestation as garbage workers’ strikes leave streets buried under piles of rotting waste.
The crisis has led to pests invading homes, raising serious public health concerns for the city’s 1.2 million residents.
The ongoing strikes, triggered by disputes over pay and staffing changes within the city’s garbage collection service, have left an estimated 17,000 metric tons of trash uncollected.
Mounds of garbage bags have turned Birmingham into what one pest controller described as a “five-star restaurant” for rats, which residents claim are now “bigger than cats.”
Local pest controller Will Timms revealed that the number of calls to remove pests from homes has surged by 50% since the strikes began. “The smell is absolutely unbelievable—rotting food, maggots crawling everywhere,”
Timms explained in a statement to CNN, highlighting the dire conditions many residents face.
The strike, now in its fourth month, stems from Birmingham City Council’s decision to eliminate certain roles among garbage workers.
While the council argues that its proposed changes will modernize waste collection services and avoid financial collapse, the workers’ union, Unite, says the move blocks pay progression and could cut salaries by up to £8,000 ($10,390) annually.
Protesters have also reportedly blocked garbage trucks, further delaying collections.
The crisis adds to Birmingham’s financial woes. The city filed for effective bankruptcy in 2023 after mounting costs from equal pay disputes and years of reduced local government funding.
According to reports, funding per resident has dropped 18% since 2010, leaving councils like Birmingham struggling to maintain essential services.
Despite the grim outlook, some residents remain proud of their city and its spirit. Timms, a lifelong Brummie, expressed frustration over the garbage crisis but emphasized the sense of solidarity shared among locals.
“Brummies have a fantastic connection. I love Birmingham to bits, but this situation is affecting everyone’s health.”
As the strike continues, Birmingham faces mounting pressure to resolve the dispute and clean up its streets, where the growing rat population serves as a vivid symbol of the city’s challenges.
