An Edinburgh woman who relies on a walker in order to navigate her local community has hit out at fly tippers and has criticised Edinburgh City Council’s item collection process.
Rosalind Alexander, 66, shared a picture of a fridge freezer that appears to have been dumped just off of Ford’s Road in the Saughton community.
She has been left irate at the dumping of massive electrical goods and says she wishes the community “would appreciate what we have.”
Rosalind often uses the grass verge to photograph various wildlife but says that fly tipping makes it dangerous for her to access the space as she relies upon a walker.
On the problem, she said: “A fridge freezer has been dumped just off Ford’s Road at the back of the care home.
“It is really frustrating as I use the space for my amateur photography and often capture birds like the kingfisher and bullfinch.
“It is very concerning for the wildlife as the pollution can not be good for the wildlife either.
“Saughton Park has been around for a long time and I think people take its natural beauty for granted. You see graffiti strewn all over the place, residents dumping their rubbish in the canal and woodland.
“We are so fortunate to live in a place like this and I just wish people would not take it for granted.
“I feel it is definitely getting worse as of late. Just last year I almost fell over fly tipped wood and could have seriously hurt myself.”
Rosalind added that she has concerns over the changes made to the council's uplift policy.
She said: “I do not understand why the council changed their policy of one free uplift a year.
“I know people do not have money at the moment and maybe that is why they are dumping but the £5 charge per item is essentially a coffee or half a pack of cigarettes.
“It seems short sighted for the council to have changed the policy as it seems like it will cost them more to clear up the dumped items that if they were to allow for one free pick up a year.
“It is such a shame that we can not look after what we have.”
It is understood that the dumped item was reported to the council and that a special uplift has been arranged for tomorrow (Friday).
Information on the council website states that: “There is a charge of £5 for each individual item uplifted. Up to five items will be collected per uplift. We can only uplift domestic items, not commercial waste.
“If you have large items at home that you no longer need and are still in good condition, you can have them collected by an organisation listed on Scotland's Re-use Tool.
“Collections are mainly free but minimal charges may apply in some areas and for some items.”
The council has been contacted for comment.
