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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Severin Carrell Scotland editor

Edinburgh faces rat surge due to refuse workers’ strike, warn heritage leaders

Heritage Edinburgh
Overflowing bins in street.
Refuse workers are engaged in a 12-day strike in protest against council leaders’ 3% pay rise offer. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

Heritage leaders have warned that Edinburgh faces a sharp increase in rat infestations after a refuse workers’ strike resulted in mountains of food waste, overflowing bins and rubbish accumulating in the city centre.

The city’s refuse workers started a 12-day strike last week in an attempt to force Scottish council leaders to improve on a “derisory” 3% pay offer, with the industrial action timed to hit Edinburgh’s fringe and arts festivals, when visitor numbers peak in the city centre.

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