You may already be aware that members of Unite and GMB trades unions are planning strike action in Edinburgh from 5am on 14 August until 4.59am on 22 August. This is a national dispute over pay, with strike action planned across the country. Discussions are ongoing between COSLA, trades unions and the Scottish Government with a view to agreeing a pay deal and resolving the dispute.
If the strike goes ahead, it is expected there will be significant disruption, anticipating that:
- There will be no bin collections or street cleaning services
- Recycling centres will be closed
- Council flytipping and special uplift services will be suspended
- Public toilets will be closed.
This disruption will likely affect all residents and businesses across the city. We encourage everyone to plan ahead and manage their waste as responsibly as possible.
The council have created a dedicated page with information and advice for residents, businesses and visitors about the strike, how it will affect people and how to manage waste safely and responsibly during this time. A few of their tips include:
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- Please do not add to full bins. Check nearby bins instead, and when these are all full, store your waste at home, or in your back green or garden if possible. Do not leave bags next to bins unless this is unavoidable, as it can become a hazard.
- Keep separating your waste and rinse pots, tubs and trays, and rinse and squash your plastic bottles and aluminium cans, so that these don’t smell while you store them. Flatten cardboard too.
- Double bag food waste and keep it in a sealed container, as cool as possible.
To stay informed, you can follow Edinburgh Council’s X feed for regular updates on the situation.