Environment

Schoolchildren have been taught the dangers of putting the wrong items into the sewer network as part of a drive to prevent future pollution.

A campaign to encourage local people to think twice about what they flush down the loo, in a bid to help protect the local environment, has been launched by Scottish Water.

Following the controversial introduction of brown bin charges, a community group is to hold a workshop on composting garden waste.

It is only 27 months since the ground was broken at the site in Millerhill and over this time construction of the new state-of-the-art energy-from-waste plant, which will serve the City of Edinburgh and Midlothian, has reached an advanced stage.

Colin Beattie MSP has welcomed the news that Midlothian has seen a rise in the number of ultra-low emission vehicles since 2017.

Residents in Dalkeith are angry with Taylor Wimpey for destroying around 30 trees on their estate instead of donating them to a new home.

Residents will be receiving letters this week explaining how to sign up and pay for the council’s new charged garden waste collection service.

The recent launch of the Penicuik Heritage Regeneration Project has been hailed as a success with around 150 people visiting the exhibition and other events held in the town.

A Scottish Water clean-up team was back on site last week at the Mary Burn, which has suffered from pollution in recent months.

Midlothian Council has approved a proposal to stop providing free food waste caddy liners.

Gorebridge Community Cares has been recognised for its dog fouling campaign, which engaged local people – young and old in tackling the issue.

Rosslyn Chapel has boosted its environmental sustainability by taking a first delivery of recycled sand.

Bonnyrigg and Lasswade Community Council has written to Midlothian Council calling for a halt to housebuilding in the town while the current infrastructure struggles to cope.

Midlothian Council’s decision to introduce a garden waste collection charge provoked fury on the Advertiser Facebook page last week.

Newbattle Abbey College has appointed a Community Woodland Ranger to work with the local community to increase involvement with Lord Ancrum’s Wood.

Household waste bins in Midlothian could be halved in size or reduced to monthly collections in a bid to crackdown on rogue garden waste.

Midlothian MP Danielle Rowley (Lab) joined rural skills students from Newbattle Abbey College to plant trees as part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, a network of forest conservation initiatives in association with the Woodland Trust.

MP Danielle Rowley has welcomed the decision by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to reject proposals from Edinburgh Airport that would have led to an increase in noise over Midlothian.

Midlothian North MSP Colin Beattie has praised Scottish Water for its quick action to clean-up the sewage that has polluted the Mary Burn and River South Esk.