Lets make it EDENburgh and not EdinbURGH
Neighbourhood EDENburgh campaigns have been running in communities all over the city.
The campaign aims to show how positive behaviour makes our city ‘EDENburgh’ and negative behaviour ‘EdinbURGH.’
The Council, partner agencies and communities themselves are aiming for a major change in Edinburgh’s environment, encouraging people to do the ‘right thing’ whether that’s recycling or simply using litter bins.
The long term goal is to make doing the ‘wrong thing’ – dropping litter,not clearing up after your dog has fouled or not recycling – socially unacceptable.
“This is all about changing behaviour for the good of everyone,” said Andrea McHugh, head of the Council’s Environment Service.
“We have to spend far too much taxpayers’ money clearing up after irresponsible people and many local community groups put a lot of effort into improving their area, only to have their efforts spoiled by a few.
“We need to stop this behaviour through a mixture of education and prevention campaigns as well as penalties.”
The campaign will also highlight the benefits or recycling and show the negative effects of landfill to the city.
Need to know
Let us know of any ideas you have to encourage people to stop littering and to recycle more. Call Nick Cairns on 0131 529 7908 or e-mail wasteaware@edinburgh.gov.uk
City clean-ups
Throughout March and April, neighbourhood teams got together with local people, businesses, schools, the Police service and other partners to pull together to rid the streets of litter and other forms of antisocial behaviour.
One of the first to kick off was at the Calders Estate, as part of the South West Week of Action, a programme of activities involving Community Safety Teams getting out and about in a mobile unit.
At least 40 pupils, two teachers and two parents rolled their sleeves up and got stuck in for the litter pick.
Southside blitz
An intensive week-long blitz took place in March in Edinburgh’s south side.
As well as tackling environmental issues such
as litter, graffiti and street lighting repairs, the week saw the Council’s Services for Communities team up with Lothian and Borders Police and Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service to raise awareness of the services each provides to the local community.
Hitting the headlines
South Queensferry in the West Neighbourhood area hit the headlines when organisers GreenFerry said their clean up was the biggest yet in Scotland.
They topped their target of 1,000 volunteers who successfully lifted nearly three tonnes of litter. It also sparked ideas for cracking down on litter louts as well as a chain reaction of clean ups in surrounding communities.
“The turnout was just incredible this year. People are so committed,” said park ranger Iwan Thomas.
“It’s great that people are so willing.
“I think it is as much a social thing here as it is about keeping the place clean.
“People like getting together.”
Giving dog owners the message
Irresponsible dog owners have been the scourge of Leith Links too long and a crackdown in March saw extra resources deployed to hold them responsible for their actions.
In a joint project, members of Lothian and Borders Police, Environmental Wardens, CCTV van operators and pupils of Leith Primary got the message to those responsible for dogs who use the area that they must clean up after their pets.
A real team effort
As the clean-ups were winding down around the city at the end of April, the team in the East Neighbourhood were just getting going. Andy Hunter, task force manager, said it was a first to see so many staff coming together with the local community to blitz the area in one week.
Litter dropped by school pupils was one of the challenges for the East environment team, while dumped supermarket trolleys were also being tackled.
“They clog the burn and this results in flooding,” said Andy. “We want to make folk aware of this and hopefully they will take it on board and take more responsibility.”