Huge piles of rubbish are overflowing on the streets of east London

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Huge piles of rubbish are overflowing on the streets of east London as council workers go on two week-long bin strike

  • Mounds of rotting rubbish is piling up in Whitechapel Road in Tower Hamlets
  • Businesses paying £400 for rubbish collection and staff making trips to tip 

Huge piles of rubbish are overflowing on the streets of east London as council workers go on a two week-long bin strike. 

Photos show mounds of uncollected black bin bags, cardboard boxes, and empty black plastic crates discarded by market stall holders in Whitechapel Road, Tower Hamlets.

In nearby tourist hotspot Brick Lane, piles of black and pink bin bags full of rotting rubbish line the street outside shops, while a stack can also be seen circling a tree. 

It comes after more than 200 Tower Hamlets council workers walked out in a dispute over pay. 

The two-week strike began on September 18 after Unite members rejected the national local government pay offer of a flat increase of £1,925. The offer is below the rate of inflation, the union said.

Photos show mounds of uncollected black bin bags, cardboard boxes, and empty black plastic crates discarded by market stall holders in Whitechapel Road, Tower Hamlets

It comes after more than 200 Tower Hamlets council workers walked out in a dispute over pay. The two-week strike began on September 18

Since then, rubbish has been piling up on the pavements with business owners saying they are having to pay out £400 a week to have it collected. 

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The Beigel Shop was left £150 out of pocket when staff had to take van full of rubbish to the tip this week. 

Manager Ellis Zelum told the Evening Standard today: ‘We had to dump a load yesterday because our yard was full of it and we don’t want to attract mice or rats.’

Private waste company Bywater has been hired by Tower Hamlets Council to pick up the mountain of rubbish. 

High rise buildings, markets, commercial areas and main roads will be targeted in the clean-up operation, the council said. 

Lutfur Rahman, executive mayor of Tower Hamlets, said: ‘We value our frontline staff and know how hard they work. This strike is a national pay dispute and not limited to local issues. It is in fact a response to the very real cost-of-living crisis felt by families up and down the country.

‘Naturally we are disappointed by the strike as keeping Tower Hamlets’ streets clean and litter free is our priority.

In nearby tourist hotspot Brick Lane, piles of black and pink bin bags full of rotting rubbish line the street outside shops

In another photo a stack of waste can also be seen circling a tree. The council has hired a private waste company to start a clean-up operation to collect the built-up waste

‘We apologise to our residents and businesses and want to assure them we are doing our best to maintain services throughout.’  

Announcing the strikes earlier this month, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘Our members provide critical frontline council services. 

‘Despite the essential roles our members undertake their employer thinks it is acceptable to propose what amounts to yet another real terms pay cut, at a time when they increasingly can’t make ends meet.

‘Unite never takes a backward step in supporting its members and is dedicated to enhancing their jobs, pay and conditions. 

‘Unite will be providing members at Tower Hamlets with its complete support.’

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