Mobile Household Recycling Centre

Cruising Birmingham to collect your rubbish - these bin men tell us the most unusual encounters they've had

Kate Knowles - Local Democracy Reporter | Friday 1st July 2022 2:36pm

If you have household waste or recycling, from tins and plastic bottles, to mattresses and bulky furniture, but no car or ability to get to the tip, the Mobile Household Recycling Centre (MHRC) could be the answer. Zooming into a ward near you five days a week, your friendly neighbourhood bin men are nearby to collect whatever it is you need to get rid of.

There are four, council-funded MHRC teams cruising the streets of Birmingham throughout the working week. One team spoke to the LDRS about the weird and wonderful encounters they’ve had – spoiler alert, not everything they come into contact with is rubbish or even inanimate.

On a sunny Tuesday morning on Ladywood’s Great Colmore Street, Mark Whittingham who heads up the team, described the day he got the shock of his life. He said: “The most unusual thing we’ve found is probably when we woke up a man.

“There was a mattress on the side of the road, covered in stuff. We went to pick it up and he appeared from underneath the stuff. He had been asleep on the mattress. 

“We didn’t take it, we left him on it. We gave him a drink and we gave him Ethan’s sandwich, which Ethan wasn’t too impressed about!”

Asked whether the residents are happy with the service he said: “We’ve had good feedback from residents, they use it. The annoying bit is when you’re here and then a day or two later there is a mattress on the floor a street away and they could have just brought it here.

“But mostly people are lovely; yesterday, a lady brought us four Indian teas. The other day, a gentleman brought us some pop. 

“They appreciate us helping them. It makes a change to be out rather than onsite.”

Team member Ethan Ricketts said: “It is a very nice job as you get to meet people and the councillors. They [Ladywood councillors Sir Albert Bore and Kath Hartley] are always there and together; recently councillors have been coming out but not as much as them two [sic].

“The most unusual thing was when one bloke came out with an eagle; it was a beautiful sight! He takes it around with him, he’s got a licence for it.”

It’s not the only animal they’ve come across either. Councillor Kath Hartley described a day on King Edwards Road in October when a rabbit appeared out of nowhere.

She said: “It came hopping down the road but a tenant from Ladywood Housing, called Rob Spencer, nabbed it and put it in a cardboard box. We all gave it a pet and he returned it to its owner.”

Most days, members of the public will pull up with car loads of items; sometimes there will be a line of cars waiting to offload their household waste. Often its a supermarket trolley and that day a man pushed a wheelbarrow over on two trips from his home nearby.

The vans will accept plastic bottles and tins; paper; glass; and clothing. They cannot accept food for health and safety reasons, however, they also dispose of household rubbish that can’t be recycled.

Bikes in good condition will be taken and refurbished. You can find out when the MHRC will be coming to your ward on the Birmingham City Council website and the permanent recycling centres are still open and fully operating.

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