Edinburgh toddler on a lockdown mission to stop fly-tipping in Firrhill

Determined to reclaim her favourite play space Lizzy has spent lockdown picking up discarded takeaway boxes and old Christmas decorations, helped by her mum Valentina Miteva, 33.

Ms Miteva said fly-tipping in Firrhill has been a continuous problem but during lockdown, she has noticed an increase in the amount of litter dumped in the area.

The family's flat has shared access to a garden which sits adjacent to the community's bins which is where most of the rubbish is coming from.

The mum-of-one said everything from couches to beer bottles is left on the pavement and often chucked over the fence into the garden.

She added: “It’s frustrating because the bins are right there, not even full up, and they choose to dump it instead.”

Frustrated by the situation Lizzy and her mother tidied up the garden to reclaim the play space for Lizzy.

But less than a month after the clean up the garden is once again full of plastic packaging, takeaway boxes and Christmas tinsel.

Mrs Miteva said: “I don't want to live in an area like this, it makes my mood really low, it's embarrassing if we have a friend come over.

“And I have to tell Lizzy not to play in the garden because it’s dangerous and full of beer bottles and broken glass.”

Councillor Scott Arthur said fly tipping is a “big issue” in Oxgangs and Firrhill and he is pleased to see Lizzy and Mrs Miteva taking action against it.

Cllr Arthur said: “I know many local people have huge respect for the work Izzy and her mum are doing to make Firrhill a better place for everyone to live.

“Littering and tipping is a big problem in Oxgangs and Firrhill, so it is always great to see people taking a stand against it.

“The lazy adults responsible for this mess should be utterly ashamed that a toddler has been left picking up their mess, particularly when so much of this material could have been easily recycled.

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