Reduction in number of bin locations set to be approved by Edinburgh councillors

The plans will see larger 'hubs' put in place with increased recycling capacity

Residents in Edinburgh will face a longer walk to dispose of their rubbish as part of plans to reduce the overall number of communal residential bin locations due to be approved by councillors.

Plans to reduce the number of bin locations are set to be discussed at the council's transport and environment committee meeting today.

If approved, Capital residents living in tenements could see their existing bin disappear and move to a new waste collection 'hub' with recycling facilities as well as refuse bins.

A bin "hub" from the trial in Albert Street (Photo: Edinburgh City Council)

The move hopes to reduce the number of missed bin collections and improve the level of recycling by reducing the overall number of communal bin locations and creating "integrated hubs".

Environment convener Lesley Macinnes said the proposals will make it easier for those reliant on communal bins to recycle and reduce street clutter.

The plans, which follow a trial in Albert Street, will be rolled out in Leith and Leith Walk first before being extended to the rest of the city by the end of next year.

The bins - which in most locations would be wheeled communal bins - will include increased capacity for dry mixed recycling but will take less non-recyclable waste.

A bin "hub" from the trial in Albert Street (Photo: Edinburgh City Council)

However the council say the capacity will match or exceed the current per household amount available to residents who have their bins picked up from the kerb.

The plans could also see residents forced to walk further to dispose of their rubbish, with a 50m maximum walk for getting rid of rubbish contained within the proposals.

Environment convener Lesley Macinnes said: "We're enormously grateful to all our residents for their efforts to minimise waste by reducing, reusing and recycling, helping us lower our carbon footprint as we work towards our Net Zero Carbon 2030 target.

"The reality just now, though, is that it's not as easy to recycle if you're reliant on on-street communal bins than if your bins are collected at the kerbside, and this imbalance is exactly what this project seeks to rectify.

"Enlarging recycling capacity and increasing the range of materials people can recycle on-street will definitely boost recycling rates and the integrated 'hubs' will not only enhance the streetscape but also mean residents have a one-stop shop for all their waste.

"There are a number of factors behind overflowing communal bins, from trade waste abuse, double parking and the explosion of short term lets to highly transient populations in some ares with on-street collections.

"We're actively addressing these issues across our work as a Council and the proposal to increase collection frequency at on-street locations will further alleviate the problem."

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