Fire chiefs have urged people to manage waste safely after one frustrated Birmingham resident tried to burn uncollected recycling inside their home.
Refuse collections have been affected by industrial action for months in England’s second city.
Birmingham City Council in March declared a major incident with 17,000 tonnes of waste at that stage uncollected, while trade union Unite this week warned of a “clear escalation of the dispute”.
Now West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) has urged people not to take matters into their own hands and burn materials.
It follows an incident that left a Birmingham resident requiring oxygen and paramedic care after trying to burn their recycling inside their home.
Emily Fernandez, head of prevention at WMFS, said: “Burning household recycling like cardboard, paper or plastics can be very dangerous, especially indoors.
“Please don’t burn your household waste or recycling. You could quickly be overcome by the smoke, or burned. Such fires can quickly get out of control and spread.
“If your recycling hasn’t been collected, we urge you to store it safely until your next collection or, if you can, take it to a household recycling centre. Never try to burn it – you’re risking lives and property.”
Birmingham City Council said it remained “committed to delivering a fair and sustainable deal for drivers and collectors” and that it had further talks scheduled with Unite.
