Modernising Waste Pilot Could See Edinburgh Abandon Black Sacks
25 November 2011
Black bin bags on the streets of the old and new towns of Edinburgh could soon be a relic of the past as new methods are piloted in World Heritage Site
Following extensive public consultation, which identified widespread dissatisfaction in Edinburgh with black bag collections, a number of different methods of waste collection were piloted at a variety of locations within the city centre over the summer months this year.
These included communal containers, gull-proof bags (in which black sacks are presented), food waste and evening collections.
The evaluation of the pilot found the highest level of customer satisfaction with communal containers (91 percent), followed by gull proof bags at 87 percent. Both methods proved effective in reducing litter from household waste, while an assessment by Edinburgh World Heritage and Historic Scotland showed that with careful consideration to location and siting, both forms of collection would be appropriate for the World Heritage Site.
Members of the Council's Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee have been asked to approve a complete phasing out of black bag collections in the city centre, with these being substituted with communal containers, or, in certain circumstances, with gull-proof bags.
Meanwhile, in areas outside the pilot zones, the Council will undertake further consultation with residents on introducing on-street communal containers. This consultation will assess how containers can be sited in such way that they do not detract from the unique built environment characteristic of the World Heritage Site. In certain areas where this cannot be achieved, residents will be consulted on the introduction of gull proof bags instead.
Councillor Robert Aldridge, Environment Leader, said: "Our Modernising Waste pilot project has been a great success in identifying new and better collection methods for the unique surroundings of the old and new towns of Edinburgh. Black sack collections have well passed their 'use-by date' - being so vulnerable to gulls and vermin, they lead to unsighly rubbish being strewn across pavements. We're very grateful to residents in the pilot areas for their invaluable feedback, which is fundamental to the changes we would now like to put in place across the World Heritage Site, subject to further consultation in the areas not involved in the pilot."
The Modernising Waste Project was set up in September 2010, with the aim of identifying appropriate alternative methods of waste collection for the city centre, taking into account the issues associated with its World Heritage site status. The project involved staff from Waste Services, the City Centre and Leith Neighbourhood Team, Planning, Historic Scotland and Edinburgh World Heritage.
The report, Modernising Waste Collection in the World Heritage Area, will be considered on Tuesday 29 November 2011.
CLICK HERE for the full report
