Workers are going on strike for seven days in hopes to reach an agreement for a pay rise in the wake of the cost of living crisis. After the refusal of an increase in the wages from COSLA, the umbrella body representing council workers, no agreement has been reached between the two parties. As we have seen the sights of the streets of Edinburgh during the bin strikes over the last week or so during The Fringe, we could still help Glasgow tackle the potential bin chaos.
So as the strikes start today, it means that nobody will be emptying the communal bins on the streets: not waste, not recycling. Therefore, it is up to us as residents to take responsibility and work together to minimise the impact of the bin strikes on our streets. While there are still going to be plenty of overflowing bins out there, here is what you can do to help reduce the waste out there:
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Keep as much rubbish indoors as possible.
This is the most obvious one: while recycling is easy to keep indoors, food waste may be tricky. Just do the best you can while you can, and if you have a balcony or a back garden where you can keep things away from the bird’s reach, then even better.
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Start to recycle properly.
It is no secret that a lot of people put dirty recycling into recycling bins. While we’re not recycling police, rinsing things out will make it a lot easier to keep indoors and reduce waste, as well as help the planet in the long run. Every little effort counts.
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Use a compost caddy.
As mentioned earlier, food waste is the tricky part. If you don’t already use one, get a wee compost caddy. They’re available in most supermarkets and online shops and do not take up much space.
The bin strikes are set to last until August 31, assuming an agreement will be reached between the union members and COSLA.