Locals embarrassed as tourists see the garbage covering Edinburgh’s streets

EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL came under fire in August after it was revealed they had received 53,000 complaints about missed collections or overflowing bins between July 2015 and July this year.

Complaints stood at just 40,309 over the same period a year earlier.

With an extra 2.6 million people expected in the city over the festive period, we went out to see if Auld Reekie has cleaned up its act.

Walking around the New Town, there were several bags of rubbish lining Queen Street.

Bottles of Buckfast Tonic Wine, white cider, and leftover takeaways could be seen on Frederick Street.

On the Royal Mile, the situation was no better. Even directly outside the council offices, bins were overflowing.

However, the Princes Street area, where the markets are taking place, was spotless.

Edinburgh local Stefanie Walten berger said: “The central bit of the city is very clean, but the non-touristy part isn’t.”

The tour manager, 34, added: “The council needs to give higher fines to people who litter – people are often lazy and drop rubbish when they aren’t near to a bin.

“I’ve lived here for 10 years but am originally from Austria. There’s a lot less rubbish there.”

Carol Rae said: “I was born in bred in Edinburgh, and I’m really let down by the mess.”

The 56-year-old retired nurse said: “It’s got worse. I see rubbish whether I’m in Grassmarket or going to watch Hearts in Gorgie.

“It’s embarrassing as the tourists see bags exposed and pigeons eating out of them.”

Sharon Labonte, 55, a fellow former nurse, said council cuts have caused the problem. She said: “Council tax hasn’t gone up for seven or eight years. Council workers are working hard, but you can’t get blood out of a stone.

“You wouldn’t see gum or cigarettes on the road in Europe, but you do here. It’s up to the politicians, to lead a culture change. We’re capable of changing.”

An Edinburgh City Council spokeswoman said: “We’re in the process of rolling out Our Edinburgh, which aims to address social behaviour like litter-dropping and fly-tipping.

“The latest phase, which focusesses on communal bins in the e Leith Walk area, was launched earlier this month.”