Grassmarket residents offered Trainspotting 'bin-ballot'

Edinburgh residents are voting for their favourite Trainspotting character with cigarette butts - in a novel approach to litter collection.

Actors Ewan McGregor (front) and Ewan Bremner (behind) running through the streets of Edinburgh where scenes for the new Trainspotting 2 is being filmed. Picture; Jane Barlow

Four “ballot bins” have popped up in the Grassmarket area of the city, each with their own unique question.

Smokers can place their cigarette ends in the answer of their choice to head-scratching opinion polls including “Who’s your favourite Trainspotting character?” with the choice of Renton or Begbie, and “Best Band?” with the options of The Beatles or Rolling Stones.

And a regular litter bin asks people to use their rubbish to vote for either haggis or shortbread as the ultimate Scottish delicacy.

Three cigarette Ballot Boxes in Edinburgh's Grassmarket. 'Who's your favourite Trainspotting character - Begbie or Renton'; 'Best James Bond - Sean Connery or Daniel Craig'; 'Best Band - Rolling Stones or The Beatles'. July 25 2016 . See Centre Press story CPBIN; Edinburgh residents are voting for their favourite Trainspotting character with cigarette butts - in a novel approach to litter collection.

The cigarette ballot bins use a clear display so the public can see which way people are voting.

As part of the Neat Streets campaign, the novel rubbish containers aim to encourage people to keep their streets tidier.

The project has been running since May and using various innovative methods to urge the public to take pride in their surroundings.

Other initiatives include installing the first ever concertina ashtray in the UK.

Three cigarette Ballot Boxes in Edinburgh's Grassmarket. 'Who's your favourite Trainspotting character - Begbie or Renton'; 'Best James Bond - Sean Connery or Daniel Craig'; 'Best Band - Rolling Stones or The Beatles'. July 25 2016 . See Centre Press story CPBIN; Edinburgh residents are voting for their favourite Trainspotting character with cigarette butts - in a novel approach to litter collection.

More ballot bins are likely to be rolled out across the rest of the city.

Carole Noble, Operations Director at Keep Scotland Beautiful said: “Litter is a genuine priority for local residents Scotland-wide and we are eager to see similar initiatives taking place nationwide in a concerted effort to reverse the decline of local environmental quality.

“Smoking related litter, whilst relatively small items, prove to be a big headache for those who have to clean them up.

“I hope that the Neat Street cigarette ballot bins help to capture attention and motivate both visitors and residents to take action to dispose of their litter responsibly.”

Environment Convener at Edinburgh City Council, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Keep Scotland Beautiful and partners on the Neat Streets campaign, which really builds on the local community’s pride in the Grassmarket to make it a cleaner, more attractive place.”