SCOTLAND’S capital is littered with abandoned Christmas trees well over a month after they were supposed to be collected.
Angry residents of Edinburgh are complaining bitterly about having to step over and round browning pines trees in mid-February.
The trees traditionally should have been taken down on January 5 and local council binmen should have collected the trees a few days after that.
Edinburgh City Council’s Twitter feed was inundated with complaints about their poor tree disposal service service throughout January and into this month.
Amanda Forsyth complained: “You.Forgot.All.The Christmas.Trees.”
Craig Ramsay demanded: “When do you think you’ll find time to dispose of the Roseburn Cliff Xmas tree graveyard Edinburgh City Council?”
David Armstrong posted a picture of trees in the street with the caption: “This is getting silly now Edinburgh Council. Three “collection dates” have been and gone. Any chance of removal?”
The next day he added: “Shockingly, all of the trees are still there. Is the hope that we just reuse them next Christmas?”
Conservative Councillor Nick Cook said: “The sight of decaying Christmas trees littering Edinburgh streets well into February is simply not good enough.
“Sadly, Edinburgh Council’s poor quality waste collection service continues to be the gift that keeps on giving – for all the wrong reasons.”
“It is clear that Council waste collection services continue to fall below what taxpayer should expect.”
Environment convener, Cllr Lesley Hinds responded: “We run dedicated Christmas tree routes every year and communicate the collection days for each area of the city.
“The routes ran for three weeks in January and there were dedicated vehicles to enable the trees to be collected and recycled.
“There are always some instances where residents have perhaps missed the notices or missed the collection dates and have left their tree in the street. I would encourage anyone who spots a tree to report it online.
“Residents can also take Christmas trees to any of the community recycling centres.”
The news has come as residents have also been complaining to the council over their handling of the “Edinburgh’s Christmas” event throughout the festive season.
The event saw hundreds of stalls and amusements take over central Edinburgh – including the iconic Princes Street Gardens.
But a number of citizens have complained about the “mudbath” left behind after the event finished – which is one of the first things visitors to the city will see after arriving by train.
