CAPITAL MAY NEED DECONTAMINATED
Warning from health agency ... as disaster zone experts arrive to help
THE streets of Scotland’s capital may need to be decontaminated to protect people from disease as waste piles up in the street.
Public Health Scotland (PHS) said the step ‘may be required’ to ‘help limit the impact of waste on public health’.
In a further sign of the dire nature of the crisis, volunteers from the Rapid Relief Team group – which normally specialises in supporting relief work in disaster zones – have begun work to help clear the streets.
PHS also warned that the accumulation of waste in residential homes – encouraged by council chiefs – may pose a fire risk.
The alerts came as it emerged some residents who live in smaller
‘May increase fire risk’
flats have resorted to keeping their rubbish in bathtubs.
In a statement, PHS said: ‘There are some simple precautions which people can take in order to reduce the possible health impacts of waste.
‘When handling waste at home, people should always wash their hands thoroughly.
‘Where possible, organic waste and medical waste should be stored in containers. If containers are not available, waste which is likely to rot or decompose should be double-bagged.’
PHS said that people living in or visiting the city should avoid any contact with the refuse piling up in public areas.
It added: ‘The accumulation of waste may increase fire risk so households may wish to consider their fire safety preparedness.
‘Public Health Scotland has made some recommendations to local authorities to help limit the impact of waste on public health, including the fact that decontamination of public areas where bins have overflowed may be required.’
It comes as waste continues to pile up during the busy Festival period, as bin men continue their 12-day strike in a row over pay.
The City of Edinburgh Council has called on locals and festivalgoers to keep their rubbish inside amid overflowing communal bins.
Residents say they have used bathtubs and even hired skips to store their junk. Helen Sikora, 87, who lives in the Old Town, told BBC Scotland she had been keeping rubbish in her bath for the last week because it is the ‘safest place’.
Meanwhile, Neil Dishington, 38, a builder who rents out his Polwarth house during the Fringe, has hired a £200-a-week skip.
‘I would have in excess of 20 bags of rubbish in my house now if I had not done this,’ he said. One local, however, told the Mail that rats have already begun rummaging around her property due to the build-up of bin bags.
She said: ‘I have spoken to neighbours and, same for them, none have had vermin before. I have also taken it upon myself to tidy up among bins bags outside. I have seen others do this too. This is really stressful, not only because of the sanitary hazard and damage they may cause, but also having to spend money on traps when money is already very scarce.’
It came after it emerged on Thursday that it could take more than ten days to clean up Edinburgh even after bin strikes are eventually brought to an end.
Tory councillor Iain Whyte, who warned of the scale of the cleanup facing the city, added: ‘Councillors of all parties must take responsibility and agree to every action we can to get the streets cleaned up.’
The huge backlog of uncollected waste created by industrial action in Edinburgh has sparked widespread public health concerns, with fears rat numbers will have exploded. Concerns have also been raised that overflowing waste bins are creating a breeding ground for bacteria, insects and vermin.
Pest controllers also warned that the additional waste has encouraged rats to breed – and that they may enter houses and flats looking for food when the waste is eventually taken away.
‘None have had vermin before’