MARCH NEWSLETTER March 28th, 2026
‘SMAG IS NOT GOING AWAY’
URGENT REQUEST
Dear SMAG Member,
Meeting with CEC Staff
We met (an e Meeting) with the TEC Convenor & senior CEC staff on March 25th. Professor June presented our power-point display (available to view at smagsco.org) which sets out the issues and objectives of SMAG, seeking greater action and clarity from the CEC.
Having presented our case, we stated our objectives. We are asking for:
- Clarification on a time-table for resolution of any resident’s request.
- An area-wide review, not minor relocation of a few bin hubs.
- Redistribution of burden of Bin Hub location, across a wider footprint of residents.
- Stronger protection of Conservation Area rules and adherence to Resident Amenity.
- Engagement with SMAG, over time, to identify compliant alternatives.
The TEC convenor explained that he had asked his senior staff to assess our submission and they presented their analysis but in the end, they claimed that no additional changes to the recent review were possible. This is often because there are no alternative locations available for a Bin Hub to be moved. And, the ‘rules’ established in November 2024 for Bin Hub Installation would also remain fixed for the foreseeable future. The CEC is keen to move on for the Review process, to take the Bin Hub Programme from a ‘project’ to ‘business as usual’ across the City. This move will permit them to action several issues that have been raised, one of which is ‘Noise at Bin Hubs’ which they agree needs to be addressed. (but it will take time!).
There will be a further report on the Meeting but in the mean-time:
One current issue that may present an opportunity is an outstanding, ‘open’ TRO. TROs are required before Bin Hubs can be installed or moved, and so there is a possibility that we can obtain some new change. We explained that all of the SMAG submissions had offered alternative locations, according to the rules set up in November 2024. Councillor Jenkinson (the TEC Convenor), who did not seem aware that SMAG submissions had done this, then asked us, as part of our current exchange, to submit details of any Bin Hub re-locations that could be considered. To help you with this task, we attach to this note another copy of the SMAG Form that we recommended you to use for your original submission. We also attach a CEC note (CBR Updated Review) setting out the latest criteria for Bin Hub placement. Please check that your ideas correspond to this…or they will be rejected.
We are therefore asking SMAG Members to send us (to [email protected]) details of the submission they wish to make to CEC for a Bin Hub change and we will re-submit these for further consideration. Obviously, there are no guarantees of change, but if you do not help us to re-submit, then we cannot ask the CEC to reconsider your case:-
We need you to let us have your formal ideas by Monday April 14th
Social Media Campaign
Your Committee has decided to establish a more public campaign to set out the issues facing us in South Meadows. It is intended to organise a structured Social Media Campaign (using Facebook, Instagram etc) to publicise the issues and seek support. In order for this to work, we need more direct support from Members. We are asking for those of you with the IT skills necessary and with skills to act as SMAG reps on platforms, and supervise the activity on each. We also need instruction about #tagging and attracting focus to our content and helping to drive views on to the SMAG website. This activity will also help us to build links with other Bin Hub Groups across Edinburgh.
If you can help, please advise us at [email protected]
With the Holyrood elections coming up please remember to interrogate candidates on their views about Bin Hubs. We had good support from Daniel Johnson and we need representatives to know that we expect them to support us as we defend our position in front of the council. Many of the problems facing the CEC come from a lack of funds – these are partly governed by Holyrood, who can also award grants for specific ecologically sound projects.
South Meadows is now part of Central Edinburgh and so we will have a change of MSP, whatever happens.
If you wish to contact your local representatives directly, they can be found here:
Contact details – Transport and Environment Committee – Modern Council; or
Councillors
https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgFindMember.aspx
MSPs
https://www.parliament.scot/msps?ReturnUrl=&PostCode=G1G80
https://www.parliament.scot/msps/current-and-previous-msps/search-results?postcode=eh91en
Ian Murray:MP (Edinburgh South) Minister of State for Media, Tourism, & Creative Industries – [email protected]
Using and Promoting the SMAG website
The website www.smagsco.org is our official site. We have updated it recently with our latest news. Please visit, and tell your friends and neighbours.
Please send a copy of your photos of any Bin Hub abuse to the SMAG website here:
[email protected] .…….so that they can be posted publicly.
We intend to use the SMAG website to highlight current issues and to make regular reports. We plan to publicise our situation again, later in the year. So, please pass any thoughts or ideas to: [email protected]
Next SMAG Committee Meeting and your own Ideas
Our next SMAG Committee meeting will be in April. Any thoughts / ideas you may have, or any views you wish to share with the Committee, should be emailed to: [email protected]
Help us to make these changes and our thanks for your support
Kate, Alastair, June, & Silke