Disgusting ‘poo mountains’ have been forming around bins in Edinburgh parks as dog walkers refuse to follow council advice to take their dog poo home with them.
Pictures show mounds of dog faeces overflowing from bins in Holyrood Park as dog walkers and their pooches enjoyed the Easter weekend sunshine.
The council have begged dog walkers to take notice of their new guidance which says, due to coronavirus, they are not able to empty litter bins and dog waste bins in parks as usual.
One Edinburgh resident out for their daily exercise in the park yesterday said: “It’s disgusting, every bin has turned into a poo mountain”.
Signs have been put up around parks by Edinburgh City Council over the weekend showing covid-19 rules, including asking people to stay two meters apart and pick up their dog waste.
Current advice on the council website reads: “We’re running a reduced street cleansing service including street sweeping and litter bin emptying. Please take litter / dog waste home with you where possible.”
The council have also been tweeting the news rules from their social media accounts but some dog walkers clearly haven't got the memo.
Historic Scotland, who mange Holyrood Park, said all non-essential work had been suspended until further notice, including normal litter collections, a spokesman added: "We are currently unable to empty bins on site and are asking park users to please take their litter and any waste home."
Council Leader Adam McVey said: “We are working extremely hard to continue delivering core services during this challenging time, and it’s essential that we are able to prioritise resources to do so.
“Fly-tipping and litter-dropping under any circumstances is irresponsible but to do so at the moment is particularly selfish and will ultimately negatively impact on all of us who live here."
“We are urging people to take care of their surroundings by taking any litter and dog waste home or use the nearest empty bin, as well as keeping bulky items for when services have resumed, and to follow advice when disposing of potentially contaminated waste.
“By doing so we will all help protect the health and wellbeing of workers and residents, while continuing to serve the people of Edinburgh.”
