EAST Lothian Council has launched a new online platform making it easier for residents to request a service or make a payment.

myeastlothian should also help the council process requests more efficiently and effectively, and pave the way for future expansion of online services.

The service – accessed via the council’s website – will initially allow people to order new recycling boxes, caddies, covers or food waste liners; more forms and services are set to be added.

Sharon Saunders, head of communities, East Lothian Council, said: “This is an exciting development in the council’s digital transformation agenda which will make it easier and faster for the people of East Lothian to make a request, report something or pay for a service.

“While myeastlothian is initially available for waste services, we’re looking forward to expanding and building on this into the future.”

When accessing myeastlothian services for the first time, customers will be asked to create a myaccount – used for all online public services in Scotland.

myaccount checks the user and hands them back to the council website with confirmation that their log-in details are genuine.

After registering, customers will sign in using myaccount to access the council’s online services.

Many online forms will then be pre-populated with the customer’s information provided by their myaccount details, so the council will require less time to check evidence of identity and address.

Register for myeastlothian at eastlothian.gov.uk/homepage/10456/myeastlothian