Missed bin collections have doubled in Birmingham since controversial changes have been introduced - but bosses predict that Christmas will see the best performance on record.

The new operating model, which was agreed between the city council and unions to resolve last year's strike, has been in full swing since September 24.

But new figures have revealed that the rate of missed collections subsequently jumped from less than 80 per 100,000 properties to more than 160 after the changes.

In response, bins chief Cllr Majid Mahmood (Lab, Bromford and Hodge Hill) vowed that the service would be back to normal within weeks, as he addressed the Housing and Neighbourhoods scrutiny committee on Tuesday (November 13).

Rubbish has piled up around Sutton Coldfield and across Birmingham during the three-month dispute.
Rubbish has piled up around Sutton Coldfield and across Birmingham during the three-month dispute.

He said: "I know there have been difficulties in the last few weeks. I'm the first person who wants to see us get to a very, very good system.

"I want to see us win awards. We are the biggest service, we should be the best."

The new Waste Recycling and Collection Officers (WRCOs), who are tasked with providing education to residents about contamination and recycling, began on Monday, September 17, while the crews switched from nine-hour shifts over four days to seven-hour shifts over five days on Monday, September 24.

Temporary rapid relief crews to pick up missed bins were made available the following week.

Figures provided to full council showed that the number of bins not collected on time soared in October - and that only includes the ones residents reported with the actual amount expected to be much higher.

Where are the areas with the most missed bins?

The five areas with the most missed reports - including garden waste - were:

Harborne - 419 reports in October - up from 151 in September

Weoley and Selly Oak - 303 reports - up from 66

Bartley Green - 284 reports - up from 105

Longbridge and West Heath - 276 reports - up from 110

Edgbaston - 242 reports - up from 136

And what do council chiefs have to say about it?

Cllr Mahmood said the biggest factor behind the disruption was the reworked collection routes to fit the shorter shift times.

The committee was told that the new maps have been tweaked on a daily basis, based on feedback from the crews, making them more efficient.

There have also been issues with the ageing fleet, including 14 vehicles from the Perry Barr depot breaking down in one day.

Cllr Mahmood was also keen to point out the scale of the operation having to collect from around 360,000 properties a day, and the ever-present issues such as inaccessible cul-de-sacs and inconsiderate parking.

But he reassured that there had been signs of improvement in recent weeks admitting that he was personally forwarding-on around 150 waste-related emails a day to the bin department.

Attention then turned to the typically-busy Christmas period.

Cllr Mahmood stated that 14 extra crews would be available this year compared to last due to the recruitment of permanent staff replacing the garden crews who would usually step down during the festive period.

He also said the rapid response crews could be retained while there may also be a business case to allow overtime - with none paid out since the new model came in.

A Christmas prediction...

Cllr Mahmood said: "Subject to weather, I think we will have the best Christmas collection that we've seen in this city."

He also revealed that workers may even get New Year's Day off confirming the idea was under review, adding: "I think it's entirely unfair them having to work New Year's Day.

"They are not an emergency service, they are not police, there is not a life at risk if the bins are not collected."

The waste fleet, some of which is more than ten years old and way past its expected lifespan, is under review.

Many of the vehicles are also none-compliant with the emission requirements set to be introduced by the Birmingham Clean Air Zone in 2020.