THE number of communal bins in the Scottish capital is to be cut as pick-ups double in a bid to tackle the city's overflowing bin problems.
Edinburgh’s bin collection system is set to be redesigned to improve the service for thousands of residents across the city.
As part of the shake-up, a trial would see communal landfill and packaging bin collections increased to every other day, as opposed to the current average rate of twice weekly.
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Bin locations across the city will also be reviewed, with the aim of creating more formalised waste points, co-locating landfill and recycling bins in optimum locations to help facilitate more recycling.
It is hoped the scheme, which would be rolled out over the next three years, will address issues around overflowing bins, missed collections and fly-tipping.
Lesley Macinnes, Edinburgh transport and environment convener, said: “This is a major project to enhance the communal bin system in Edinburgh.
"By increasing the frequency of collections, we hope to vastly improve the service, reducing the occurrence of overflowing bins and associated litter, which I know is a frustrating and unsightly issue for residents and visitors alike."
The first trial to collect on-street bins every other day would take place in a select area of the Leith Walk ward.
By increasing the frequency of collections, it is expected that the number of communal bins – and the associated maintenance and replacement costs - could be reduced by up to 25 per cent
While communal bin complaints to the council amount to around one per cent of 100,000 collections a month, this is higher than those relating to individual kerbside collections, which has been attributed to a number of factors.
These include businesses’ misuse of communal bins, double parking next to bins, resulting in failed collections, and the proliferation of short term lets in the capital, placing strain on existing bins.
As part of the project, officers will also investigate alternative communal bin collection methods, in addition to the potential for new bin housings and providing shared bin and cycle storage.
At its worst point last year the Edinburgh Conservative group raised concerns after revealing that complaints over missed collections soared to an average 1,000 a week.
At that stage in 2016 complaints were up by 18,000 to 53,000 on the year before.
Nick Cook, Conservative transport and environment spokesman, said greater collection frequency is welcome but "given the well documented failings of the city waste collection services, there will be legitimate concerns over the council’s capacity to carry out these additional collections.
“The council must also consider the environment impact of having extra bin lorries on residential streets.”