Festive waste collection & Christmas Tree recycling arrangements

Edinburgh (2)

For the majority of Edinburgh households there will be no change to collection dates for green wheelie bins, food waste bins and red and blue boxes over the festive period.

However, there will be no collections on CHRISTMAS DAY (Friday 25 December) or NEW YEAR’S DAY (Friday 1 January).

Collections for households whose bins or recycling boxes were due to be picked up on these dates have been rescheduled for Saturday 26 December and Saturday 2 January respectively. 

Residents are reminded that bins and boxes must be on the kerbside by 6am ready for collection.

There will be no special uplifts between Tuesday 24 December and Tuesday 5 January. Normal service will resume on Wednesday 6 January.

All information about festive collections has been added to the Council’s website where residents can check collection dates for bins and Christmas trees, and report missed bins.

Christmas Tree recycling

Residents will once again be able to recycle their real Christmas trees at the kerbside this year, no matter where they live.

Those with a brown bin should chop up their Christmas tree and place it inside their bin on the kerbside by 6am on their next garden waste collection day (collection days can be checked on the city council website).

Residents in communal areas that use on street shared bins can put their tree on the pavement outside their property on designated collection dates during January – check the website to see when collectiions are taking place in your area. Trees over 6ft tall should be cut in half first.

To enable trees to be recycled, residents are reminded:

– To remove all decorations from the Christmas tree
– To remove stands from trees
– To please cut the tree if is 6ft tall or more
– Not to place trees in plastic bags, as this means they cannot be recycled

You can also take Christmas trees to any of the Community Recycling Centres. The sites will be closed 25, 26 December and 1, 2 January.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Environment Convener, said: “I’m delighted that thanks to all staff working together to deliver the service that, with the exception of Christmas Day and New Years Day, we are able to run all our waste and recycling collections as normal during the festive period.

“It’s important not to forget about recycling at this time of year, especially as we produce so much waste. You would be amazed at how much stuff we use at this time of year that is recyclable, like cardboard and wrapping paper, so please take advantage of our recycling facilities as much as you can.

“Whether they put their tree out with their brown bin, leave it out for collection in communal bin areas on designated days or take it to a Community Recycling Centre, people can make sure that their real Christmas tree is recycled once the festive season is over.

” It’s never been easier to check information or report things online so I would remind you  to check our website over the festive period for any possible changes to collections if the weather is bad or for information on recycling.”

Waste and recycling collections may be subject to change in the event of severe weather. For more information on what to do if services are disrupted due to bad weather, visit the city council’s severe weather pages.

Calendars online for 2016 collections

There are no changes to the 2016 collections. The new bin calendar is on the city council’s bin collection day page now.

World follows Edinburgh’s lead!

City leaders sign up to ambitious green charter

green

The signing of the climate agreement by 190 countries over the weekend has been hailed as a breakthrough for the planet. True, there’s some scepticism over the optional elements of the deal and some believe the Paris agreement just doesn’t go far enough, but there’s universal acceptance that something has to change. Continue reading World follows Edinburgh’s lead!

EVOC looks for answers on third sector grants

Anger and anxiety over funding debacle

CITYSKYLINE (3)

Third sector umbrella organisation EVOC is to seek answers to funding queries following the uncertainty caused by Tuesday’s Education, Children and Families committee meeting.

The meeting was expected to recommend that organisations that had received funding in 2015/16 would be given the same amount as last year, while successful new applicants would receive 50% of their bid. However the key report was withdrawn on the eve of the meeting, leaving scores of community organisations in the dark over their futures.

Following the decision to withdraw the grant recommendations paper before Tuesday’s meeting, EVOC approached the Executive Director of Communities and Families for clarification and she has agreed to respond to questions collected by EVOC on behalf of organisations affected. 

EVOC’s Children, Young People and Families Network development worker Sarah Wade said: “If you wish to raise a question please email me at sarah.wade@evoc.org.uk by 10am on Monday 14 December.

“This will enable us to collate questions from the Sector and submit them to Gillian Tee as soon as possible. Please include the name of the organisation you represent when you contact me – this will not be included with your question. For those organisations who have already been in touch with me, I will include the questions you have already raised.”

Email sarah.wade@evoc.org.uk or call 555 9133 for further info

Continue reading EVOC looks for answers on third sector grants

Still time to have your say on antisocial behaviour

Have your say on Edinburgh’s Antisocial Behaviour Strategy
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The latest  Antisocial Behaviour Strategy for Edinburgh is being drafted, and the next phase for this project is to go out to public consultation, so we can gather the opinions of the people of Edinburgh about Antisocial Behaviour and how it affects them. The consultation will run until the 31st December and will be hosted online at:
 
 
There is also a print version of the consultation available for anyone who does not wish to respond electronically, available at Neighbourhood Council Offices and Libraries.
 
The more feedback we get through the Consultation the better, so if you or your organisation can support the Consultation by raising awareness through social media, having paper copies available at public offices, or through any other means it would be much appreciated.
 
Tom Veitch
Project Officer | Community Protection Support Unit | Services for Communities | City of Edinburgh Council | Tel No:  0131 469 3871
Email    tom.veitch@edinburgh.gov.uk

Cutting out cold calling in Drylaw

Scheme to be introduced in Easter Drylaw Gardens 

bogus-caller

Drylaw Telford Community Council and Easter Drylaw Residents Association (EDRA) are to make Easter Drylaw Gardens a No Cold Calling Zone. Continue reading Cutting out cold calling in Drylaw

Council budget: have your say on ‘Transformation Programme’

Consultation period extended until 17 December

CityChambers

New proposals to help save the Council money over the next four years have been published for public comment. Edinburgh’s citizens can submit their views on measures, which add to a series of existing proposals on how the Council is to make an annual saving of at least £126m by 2020.

There will now also be an extra week for feedback, with the engagement period now running until 17 December.

Continue reading Council budget: have your say on ‘Transformation Programme’

Tram network back on track?

Capital Coalition stands firm to seek ‘best value for city’

tram front

Councillors have approved in principle that any tram extension should continue to Newhaven. Elected members voted today to continue consideration of an Outline Business Case (see below) until the next Council meeting in December, when a further report will be heard. Continue reading Tram network back on track?