Government targets mean councils across England need to aim for 65% of waste being recycled by 2035.
What is more, currently when waste is sent to landfill, councils are required to pay tax on it – £126 per tonne for household waste.
Birmingham City Council sent 13,781 tonnes to landfill between the start of January and the end of June this year, meaning the cash-strapped council has to pay out £1.7m in tax.
In recent months, general waste has been largely collected, but residents have not had recycling collections since January.
Some say they have resorted to putting it in with their general waste, while others have said they take it in to work or ask family members in neighbouring authorities to dispose of it.
Between 1 January and 30 June 2024, 22.17% of overall waste was recycled in Birmingham, amounting to 43,864 tonnes.
In that same period this year, 13.24% was recycled – 24,071 tonnes.