Residents in Edinburgh are preparing for a repeat of the 2022 bin strike, which saw streets covered in litter and seagulls fighting rats over waste. Unions have rejected a 3.2% pay rise, and strikes are expected to hit 25 of Scotland's 32 councils, with Edinburgh particularly affected due to the festival season.
During the last 12-day strike, residents stored rubbish in hallways, cupboards, and even baths. Helen Sikora, 89, kept her waste in the bath, saying it was 'cleaner if anything seeped through.' Others reported rats, mice, foxes, and seagulls scavenging through overflowing communal bins.
Peter Williamson, 68, stored rubbish in his kitchen but warned that neighbours might dump waste outside, attracting vermin. Betty Stone, 79, had bags in her hallway and described the situation as 'not healthy.' Kirsten Lloyd, 46, refused to keep food waste inside due to the heat and a young child, leading to overflowing bins and a 'horrendous stench.'
Despite the inconvenience, many residents support the workers. Unite union says loaders earn £22,000-£23,000 and drivers £27,000-£28,000. Cameron Scully, 30, called the pay 'outrageously low' and noted widespread public support during the last strike.
Business owners fear tourists will be put off, but residents are more concerned about hygiene and vermin. The City of Edinburgh Council has advised storing waste indoors to avoid adding to street heaps.
