Bin Strike Mayhem Leaves City Overrun by Rodents
Birmingham is in crisis.
What started as a bin strike has quickly snowballed into a public health emergency. For over five weeks, waste collections have ground to a halt—and now the rats are taking over.
Overflowing wheelie bins.
Black bags ripped open and dumped in alleys.
Rotting food piling up on street corners.
It’s the perfect storm—and rats are absolutely loving it.
🚨 THE RAT BOOM: BREEDING OUT OF CONTROL
It only takes one rat couple to create chaos.
Let’s break down the math:
Rats reach sexual maturity in just 5 weeks
They breed 6 to 10 times a year
Each litter produces 6 to 12 pups
That means 1 pair = 2,000+ rats in a year
Now imagine that repeated across hundreds of thousands of rats… in every neighbourhood of Birmingham.
The city council has conservatively estimated the current rat population could already be at 6 million.
But as frontline pest controllers at TLC Pest Control, we believe the number could be much higher—potentially up to 17.5 million rats if this strike continues unchecked.
⚖️ BAITING THE ENEMY: THE SHEER SCALE OF THE TASK
Let’s do some rough calculations.
To effectively eliminate 1 rat, we need approximately 40 grams of rodenticide (professional-grade rat bait).
So to take out 1 million rats, we’d need around 250 kilograms of bait.
For 17.5 million rats?
That’s 7,000 kilograms (7 tonnes) of bait—just to make a dent.
This is more than just a pest control issue—this is a citywide infestation in the making.
👃 THE SMELL OF DANGER
Aside from the obvious health risks, residents are already complaining about the stench from uncollected bins. The smell of decaying food and waste isn’t just unpleasant—it’s a massive beacon for rats.
Rats are opportunistic feeders, and right now, Birmingham is a giant all-you-can-eat buffet.
If you’re noticing:
Greasy trails along walls
Droppings the size of rice grains
Gnawed bags and food containers
Or even rats during daylight hours (a sure sign of a large population) …
Then you may already have a problem brewing on your doorstep.
🧫 HEALTH RISKS YOU CAN’T IGNORE
Let’s not sugar-coat it: rats are filthy.
They carry a long list of serious diseases, including:
Weil’s disease (Leptospirosis)
Salmonella
Rat-bite fever
Listeria
And more…
These diseases can spread via:
Contaminated surfaces
Food and water sources
Even through open wounds or cuts
Rats don’t just pose a risk to homes—they’re a serious threat to schools, restaurants, shops, and business premises.
🛑 WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW
Until bin collections resume, we are quite literally fighting a losing battle. But there are things you can do to help reduce the risk around your home or business:
✅ Keep bin bags sealed & indoors
Store all rubbish inside sealed containers or wheelie bins with the lid firmly closed. Rats are strong enough to chew through loose black bags.
🚫 Don’t leave food waste out
Whether it’s takeout leftovers or last night’s dinner, do not leave any scraps outside. Even bird feeders can attract rodents.
🧼 Clean up regularly
Keep your garden, yard, or alleyway clear of clutter, pet food, and rubbish. Rats love hiding in dense areas.
📞 Report sightings fast
See a rat in the day? Hear scuttling in your loft? Don’t wait—call in professionals immediately.
💥 THE REALITY: DIY ISN’T ENOUGH
Traps and supermarket bait might seem like a quick fix—but in a city facing millions of rats, it’s like trying to empty the ocean with a bucket.
The current situation requires strategic pest management, including:
Professional-grade baiting systems
Environmental control
Property inspections
Ongoing monitoring
And even then, we’re battling against exponential growth.
💬 TLC PEST CONTROL: YOUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE
At TLC Pest Control, we’re on the front lines of this crisis.
Our teams have been working around the clock, responding to emergency callouts in homes, businesses, and public buildings. The increase in demand has been unprecedented—but we’re not backing down.
We offer:
✅ Emergency call-outs
✅ Residential and commercial pest control
✅ Long-term baiting and monitoring contracts
✅ Discreet service with unmarked vans
✅ Highly trained technicians, fully insured
🧯 WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Until the Birmingham Council resolves the bin strike and normal waste collection resumes, rat numbers will continue to rise.
This is a ticking time bomb—and unfortunately, rats don’t wait for bureaucracy.
We urge all residents and businesses to take this seriously and to act immediately. Prevention is cheaper, faster, and safer than dealing with a full-blown infestation later down the line.
📞 CONTACT US NOW
Don’t let your property become a breeding ground.
If you’ve seen rats, noticed signs of activity, or just want to protect your home or workplace—get in touch today.
📍 Based in Birmingham
📆 Same-day callouts available
📱 Call us on [0750 788 0664]
🐀 BIRMINGHAM, IT’S TIME TO ACT
This isn’t a drill.
The rats are multiplying—and fast.
If we wait too long, we may be facing a rat problem on a scale the city has never seen before.
Don’t let your street become their playground.
Be vigilant. Be proactive. Call TLC Pest Control.