Edinburgh Council issues advice to residents ahead of strikes
The City of Edinburgh Council has issued advice to residents ahead of bin strikes re-starting next week
Last updated 31st Aug 2022
Residents in Edinburgh have been issued advice ahead of bin strikes re-starting next week.
Workers will take industrial action for eight days beginning next Tuesday (September 6th) if a new pay deal isn't agreed by then.
The clean up from the last wave of strikes only began yesterday (Monday August 30th) and it's unclear if the backlog will even be clear before the next set.
Rubbish bins overflowing in the Grassmarket due to industrial action by Edinburgh council workers.
An overflowing bin can be seen outside the Waverley Market next to the station.
Rubbish pilling up in residential streets in Gorgie.
Tourists walk past overflowing bins, at the height of festival season in the Capital.
The sixth day of the Waste Service Strike has led to central Edinburgh becoming an unsanitary mess.
Rubbish bins overflowing outside Edinburgh Waverley.
Rubbish pilling up in residential streets in Gorgie.
Bins overflowing with rubbish are being taped up as they begin to overflow with waste, at the height of festival season.
New actions from the City of Edinburgh Council are intended to clear up as much of the waste before it begins to pile up again.
Residents are now being advised as follows:
• If you’re due any bin collections today (Wednesday 30 August)these are still being collected as normal.
• If your bin collections are due on Thursday or Friday:
o Put both your green AND grey wheelie bins, and bagged extra waste, out by 6am on your normal collection day and we will aim to empty them BOTH. There may be some delays and they may not be collected on the same day as each other, so please leave them out until the end of the day on Monday (5 September).
o If you’re due a food waste collection, put this out as usual, by 6am.
o Garden waste collections will be suspended on these days. Please do not put your brown bin out for collection on Thursday or Friday – it will not be collected. We’re very sorry for this and will be in touch shortly with details of how we’ll compensate you for any recently missed collections.
o The blue box glass collection service remains suspended. We’ll update you when this is due to restart.
Council Leader Cammy Day said:
“Obviously this further change to our schedules is far from ideal, and I apologise for any inconvenience caused, however it gives us the best possible chance of preparing the city for the next period of industrial action.
“Our crews have been working hard to catch up on collections and making every effort to collect significant volumes of litter across the city. The clear up is progressing well and we can already see the benefits of having the crews back out on the street keeping the city clean.
“We’re asking residents to take on board this latest advice and to let neighbours, family and friends who might not have heard about the latest updates know. You can also help by storing extra waste safely for a little longer or are able to book an appointment at a recycling centre please do so. For the very latest information and advice please keep checking our website and social media channels.
“I appreciate that this has been an extremely challenging period for us all and I would like to thank our residents, businesses and visitors for their continued patience and understanding.
“I will continue to press for the Scottish Government and COSLA to get back round the table earlier than Friday to find an acceptable settlement and bring an end to this dispute once and for all.”