Refuse lying strewn around bins in and around the centre of St Andrews has been branded a “disgrace”.
Pictures were posted on social media this week showing overflowing wheelie bins in Kinnessburn Terrace with similar mess outside businesses in Market Street.
Iain Beaton said on Facebook: “It’s a disgrace. Will they still get to do this when The Open is on?”
Margaret Jack said: “That is shocking . What is St Andrews coming to? They should be fined massively.”
St Andrews Labour councillor Brian Thomson called for stronger enforcement measures to be taken regarding the on-going issue of over-flowing bins.
He said: “I subsequently raised the matter with council officers. It transpired that, in Kinnessburn Terrace, contamination of some of the respective recycling bins was an issue if the bins are contaminated, they don’t get emptied but the council will now empty all of the bins to enable a fresh start for the residents of this area.
“Arrangements have also been made for the council’s recycling advisor to visit the area, and do a letter drop advising residents of what’s required of them regarding recycling.
“Regarding the overflowing bins in Market Street, a council environmental enforcement officer has visited the businesses concerned, and advised them that this cannot continue, and any repetition will incur a financial penalty. “An arrangement has also been made for one of the council’s Duty of Care Officers to visit the businesses concerned, to provide advice in relation to recycling issues.”
Martin Kingham, Fife Council Service Manager (Waste Collection) said the bins in question were all emptied on their scheduled collection day.
He added: “These issues relate to their use.
“Firstly, on Kinnessburn Terrace, some paper bins were tagged as contaminated and we need householders to help by removing the foreign materials so that we can empty the bins.
“This appears to have led to over-filling of some of the blue landfill bins and to bags being fly-tipped next to them. These bags are then ripped open, probably by either birds or cats.”
Mr Kingham said the blue bins were due to be emptied on Tuesday and one of Fife Council’s team of recycling advisors would be visiting the area to offer advice to the residents.
He confirmed the Market Street commercial bins were emptied on Monday.
“The spillage was probably due to additional waste generated over the Bank Holiday weekend,” he said.
“The council’s street cleaning teams do a great job cleaning up when waste is spilled like this but sometimes birds or cats can beat them to it.”