City chiefs set to bin weekly rubbish collections in June

The city council has confirmed that it will only carry out bin collections every two weeks from early summer.

The change, which will affect half of all households in Edinburgh, is being implemented following cuts that were forced through last year.

Council chiefs insist that the change will be countered by increasing the number of recycling collections, including a roll-out across the city of new food waste collections.

However, concerns have been raised about residents not being given enough information about the changes.

Councillor Andrew Burns, leader of the Labour group on the council, said: “We are only a few months away from what will be a significant change for many residents, so it’s essential that the council makes sure that a proper communication programme takes place.

“I am not convinced that people are aware that this is about to happen.”

Many residents say they have not yet received any information about when the change to collections will come into force. But a council finance report has confirmed that the fortnightly collections, which will save the council £720,000 a year, will be introduced in June.

Officials hope that the roll-out of food waste boxes, which will be collected every week, to every low-rise household will help offset the impact of the reduction in general collections.

However, food collections have not been popular in all areas.

Marianna Clyde, chair of Merchiston Community Council, said: “I really think that the idea is not a good use of public money. It’s not practical because people do not generate sufficient food waste.

“They would be much better dropping organic collections and just getting bin collections to remain weekly.”

Councillor Robert Aldridge, the city’s environment leader, said: “The number of [waste] collections residents receive will increase as we will now be making weekly collections of food waste, as well as fortnightly collections of general and garden waste and alternate weekly collections of red and blue boxes.

“Analysis shows that food waste accounts for about a third of what is currently put in general waste bins and so these measures will result in less of Edinburgh’s waste going to landfill.”