A sanitation strike in Birmingham has resulted in a drastic increase in garbage accumulation, causing significant public health concerns. With essential garbage collections down to 360,000 from 500,000 per week due to labor disputes, nearly 19,000 tons of waste has piled up, attracting more rats. Experts note that these rodents have become larger and more aggressive due to the accessible food, complicating pest control efforts. The city declared a major incident and increased efforts to manage the crisis, while workers express worries about health risks as more waste accumulates during warmer weather.
Norman Yousaf, director of Monster Clearance, described the city as a "rat's heaven," highlighting the health risks as his team encounters vermin regularly during collections.
Natalie Ford from Hullternative noted that the strike has led to a 75% rise in pest control calls, attributing this to larger, bolder rats driven by excess food.
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