Residents across Birmingham have been told to take their own rubbish to tips, while bin workers strike across the city amid an ongoing dispute with the council.

Workers for Unite Union began their walkout last month, after Birmingham City Council announced it would be abolishing the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role.

The Union said that this role is “safety critical” and will result in pay cuts of up to £8,000 for 150 workers. They also fear that it will be the beginning of a wave of cuts that will seriously stifle the service.

Workers will strike across 12 days in February and 13 days in March, a drastic change from the original plan of four days in each of these months.

Workers will strike on 12 days in February and 13 days in March

In an updated version of guidance issued to households impacted by the industrial action, the council recommended that residents take their own waste to tips when bin workers are striking.

The advice was buried in an online document published on February 4, so many residents claim they did not see it.

It said: “Unfortunately, the escalation of the industrial action means we will be implementing further changes for residents.These include Suspension of recycling collections. We will only be collecting residual waste during this time. We encourage you to visit a local household recycling centre where possible.”

A resident slammed the council for not making the guidance clearer, and that the decision will cause “real problems” for those who cannot access a tip easily.

The advice was buried in an online document published by the council on February 4, so many residents claim they did not see it

He told BirminghamLive: “It’s really poor to bury this important change in the middle of an existing document online and not tell people explicitly.

“This will cause real problems for people whose recycling bins are already full and who cannot get to the tip to empty them. All this of course while our council tax goes up by 17.5 per cent in just two years.”

Streets were lined with recycling bins still, 24 hours after the usual collection date, the publication reports.

Following the increase in industrial action, the strike days are as follows. In February: 4, 6, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 18, 20, 25, 26 and 27.

The dates in March are said to be: 3, 4, 6, 10, 12, 14, 17, 18, 21, 25, 26, 28 and 31.

There are also strike days scheduled for April 2 and 4.

The union said the axing of WRCO role would severely impact workers, as well as services

The council have said the removal of the WRCO role would “improve the quality of service delivery”.

However, the union said the axing of the role would severely impact workers, as well as services.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “There is no justification for such huge pay cuts to workers’ wages.

“Birmingham council cannot just ignore this situation and hope that it will go away.

“It is a line in the sand for our members, who know more attacks will follow if they don’t fight back. Unite is with them 100 per cent.”