After years of consultation, dispute, trial-runs, false starts and unforeseen delays, a new mixed strategy for 'Modernising Waste Collection' in the West End and remaining parts of the New Town is inching towards implementation.
The Council yesterday released drafts of leaflets and letters to householders explaining wheelie bins, food-recycling caddies and gull-proof bags (GPBs) which will be made more public soon once a contractor for the latter is appointed (possibly tomorrow).
As part of this package, a map (attached as a pdf below) shows how communal bins of varying sizes (660, 1280 and 3,200 litres) will be allotted across Spurtleshire from Howe Street in the west to Gayfield Square in the east; from Queen Street in the south to Fettes Row, Royal Crescent and Cornwallis Place to the north.
Also listed are the local streets which will depend in whole or in part upon GPBs: Carlton Street and Terrace; Drummond Place; Heriot Row; London Street; Regent and Royal Terraces.
Crucially, though, the map only shows street-level solutions. It does not give the precise positions of individual containers (which are still 'being finalised'). On the other hand, the map draws from the location of current Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs) which form the basis for 'routing' the new communal bins.
Spurtle today sought help from within Waverley Court to understand these muddling complexities, but non-specialists there seem almost as baffled as we are. As far as we can gather, the situation remains fluid with a little fine-tuning still to be done. A different, detailed and definitive map giving exact bin locations will appear on the Council website here soon (possibly later today). When it does, we'll tell you.
Whilst the argument for abandoning pest-friendly black bin bags has long since been won to most people's satisfaction, getting this far with their replacement – in the face of logistical, technical and contractual challenges, and a sceptical, well-resourced New Town population resistant to change and more than capable of arguing its case(s) – has not been easy.
In truth, it has been a task of Balkan complexity, achieved by Council officials with the odd cock-up but also patience, politeness, professional rigour and pragmatism. For this they deserve credit.
We hope any remaining opponents of the scheme will now suspend their disbelief alongside their gull-proof bags and belatedly join the rest of us in a cleaner, pleasanter World Heritage Site.
Update
12.45pm: Since posting the article above at 12.15pm, new information has arrived from the Council. Gull-proof bags will be delivered in the week commencing on 19 August. Wheelie-bins will be issued in the week comencing on 26 August.
Councillor Leslie Hinds, Transport and Environment Convener, said:
'We have worked very closely with local residents and heritage organisations on the most efficient and acceptable refuse collection system for the city cewntre, recognising that different areas need different approaches.
'Residents' opinions were extremely important to the process of introducing new colection methods, and I am grateful to everyone who took part in the extensive public consultation.
'Their views have been carefullly balanced with the need to preserve the historic charm of the city centre, the need to ensure that Edinburgh remains as litter-free as possible and the practicalities of providing an efficient waste collection service.'
What do you think of Edinburgh's 'Modernising Waste Management' progress? Tell us by email spurtle@hotmail.co.uk on Facebook Broughton Spurtle or Twitter @theSpurtle