The focus of CHCT’s work during the Seventh Litter Pickup on 27 July, was the frontage of the Collective Centre for Contemporary Art, where there was a high concentration of cigarette stubs, broken glass, bottle tops, plastic bags, fast food wrappings & other waste items. We hope the staff of the Collective appreciated the dedication of our volunteers in cleaning up this prominent space. (Next time we’ll try to do the weeding as well!)
We left the hill in pristine condition, but unfortunately the bins overflowed later that weekend, and gulls were discovered on Monday morning picking over waste and litter scattered all over the top of the hill. The Edinburgh Reporter were quick onto the scene and published a story with graphic photographs, as well as comments from the Trust and Councillor and (new) MP Scott Arthur, see here.
The Council Cleaning Department were quick to take action to remove the scattered litter, adding two large capacity 1100 litre wheel bins, in addition to two 1280 litre containers that were put on the hill earlier.
CHCT have discussed with the council, the possibility of having improved signage on the bins, so the public have a better idea of how to use the new bins, and also suggested installing ‘seagull flaps’ — strips of clear plastic — inside the openings of the static bins to prevent litter blowing out, or being taken out by gulls.