Recycling will be made easier for Edinburgh’s flats and tenements as part of a new pilot recommended for the city.
Proposals, to be considered at the next Transport and Environment Committee, will enhance recycling services for people served by on-street waste containers and recycling points.
Two pilot projects, which will focus on ‘traditional’ tenement areas, aim to expand the range of materials collected while also improving the balance between recycling and landfill bins.
The first pilot simplifies the mix of materials that can be recycled by combining paper with cardboard, cans and plastic bottles in one bin instead of two. Where possible, remaining bins will be converted into glass recycling bins.
The second pilot will take place in areas where large 3200 litre bins are currently used for landfill waste, and would increase the capacity for recycling while reducing the capacity for residual waste.
Here, the mix of recycling materials will be changed as in the first pilot, but in these areas the larger 3200 litre bin will now be used for mixed dry recyclables and the smaller 1280 litre container, previously used for paper or packaging, will be used for landfill. A separate bin for glass will also be provided.
Waste services will work closely with the relevant neighbourhood teams to regularly monitor the impact of a reduction in capacity for residual waste.
Councillor Lesley Hinds, Environment Convener, said: “We have a comprehensive recycling service in Edinburgh, and have developed options for different kinds of accommodation, but it is important that we address the challenges faced by those living in flats.
“To this end we have been listening to residents in order to improve the service, which is essential for preventing waste and creating a green, sustainable city.”
Proposals to enhance on-street recycling services follow public consultation by both Zero Waste Scotland and City of Edinburgh Council on residents’ attitudes to recycling in flats and tenement areas.
Barriers to recycling found by both included a lack of access to facilities (namely glass recycling), a lack of information on what can be recycled where and too few recycling bins, with containers filling up too quickly. Findings also showed an appetite to reduce the capacity for general waste while maintaining the facility for recycling.
The appearance and operation of bins will also be improved by a three-year refurbishment programme, which will ensure all bins are clean and that repairs are carried out where necessary, as well as refreshing and replacing stickers on bins providing further information on what can and cannot be recycled.
Measures to enhance recycling services contribute to Council targets to reduce landfill and increase the percentage of waste recycled to 50%. A report, also to be considered at the next Transport and Environment Committee, already shows a 5.48% (or 6,428 tonnes) reduction in the amount of waste sent to landfill over the last year, and a recycling rate of just under 40%.
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This is not fixing a major problem with the bins that are already in place. I see these bins being tipped over on a daily basis. Most people in our street which is full of tenements won’t use them because they don’t want to add to the smelly problems that occur. With tenements in the Dalry and Fountainbridge area being overrun with gulls do we really want to put out more food for them?
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