Underground storage areas for bins have been considered as a way of tackling the war on waste in the centre of St Andrews.
Residents and visitors took to social media several weeks ago to complain about overflowing bins in the Kinnessburn Terrace and Market Street areas.
Concerns have also been raised about the mess made when seagulls nesting in the town centre rip open bins.
Now, Fife Council officers have come up with a number of potential solutions although some may be ruled out on grounds of cost.
St Andrews Labour councillor Brian Thomson revealed that various options have been suggested to address the problem of over-flowing domestic and commercial bins, and refuse sacks that are ripped open by gulls.
He said: “Despite the best efforts of the council’s street cleaners, this problem continues to blight St Andrews town centre.
“After I highlighted the problem a couple of weeks ago, officers have helpfully come back to me with a number of potential solutions.
“Some of the potential solutions, however, are acknowledged by officers as likely to be either impractical or cost prohibitive.
“For example, the ideal solution would be underground storage of waste, but the cost of carrying out the excavations would be cost prohibitive, as would changing the council’s refuse collection vehicles, which are not designed to collect waste from an underground collection point.”
Other potential solutions include:
Provision of bulk bins for houses/flats that use sacks due to having no off-street storage for bins, however, the bins would be permanently out, and there would be a loss of pavement and/or parking spaces to accommodate the bins.
Invest in the purchase of seagull-proof outer bags, now in use in Edinburgh, for issue to households that use sacks, however, there would be an issue with securing the bags after an uplift, eg they could blow away.
Closer scrutiny of planning and building warrant applications, for food businesses in particular, to ensure that ample waste storage is provided.
Mr Thomson added: “There appears to be no perfect solution, however, the state of the town centre on some mornings is not acceptable, and any potential option needs to be looked at.
“To this end, I’m looking to discuss the matter further with officers and fellow St Andrews councillors, and also seek the views of St Andrews Community Council.”