In 2014 the council decided to change the way that businesses would deal with their trade waste, and today they heard a pleasing report on progress.
The council has also introduced enforcement of the new policy with two environmental wardens issuing 7 enforcement notices across the city.
Councillor Karen Doran who represents the City Centre Ward commented that this is a huge improvement for the city centre.
Councillor Chas Booth warmly welcomed the project in his ward in Leith. He raised the matter of health and safety in pedestrian areas. Some of the bins are now being picked up during the day rather than in the wee ska’ hours, and so there is a risk to pedestrians. The council officer explained that the bins should only be out for an hour or so and should not pose a risk. When pressed about the risk of bin lorries on the streets, the officer explained that the collection times avoid peak periods.
Businesses have three times of day when they may put bins out on streets for collection, and the council ran pilot projects in Rose Street to ensure that the new arrangements would work. The pilot scheme was a big success.
In the city centre the number of trade waste bins on streets has reduced by 73%. Fewer bins on the streets mean that public areas are improved for pedestrians, there are positive effects on health and on public safety.
The difference is obvious from the photos above
The scheme was rolled out first in the city centre and Phase Two will be introduced by summer 2016. The full report is here.
Some enterprising waste companies have introduced a system where they can tell the business exactly when they are on their way to empty their bins. Councillor Hinds explained to The Edinburgh Reporter that this is like the buzzer system used in some fast food restaurants where they give you an alarm that buzzes on your table to tell you that your meal is ready. What it means is that bins are out on our streets for as short a time as possible.
Businesses no longer have to leave their bins out on the streets all day in the hope that they will be collected at some point. Everyone wins with this new arrangement. Bins no longer litter the city’s streets all day long, and businesses have a better arrangement with the company removing their rubbish.
But today the council agreed that for some traders it is still necessary to introduce enforcement measures.
The measures are as follows:
- Trade waste containers are not permitted to be stored on public space;
- Trade waste is to be presented for collection on public space during the following times only: 9.30am – 12pm, 2pm – 4pm, 6.30pm – 11pm;
- Within presentation times, waste is only permitted to be presented for up to one hour;
- Waste placed on street for collection must display the business name and collection time;
- Waste may only be placed on-street when the business is staffed and never overnight; and
- Waste containers must be placed as near to the edge of a business’s property as is possible, whilst retaining clear pedestrian access.
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