A RECYCLING point near to Aldi in Tranent has been closed by East Lothian Council after it became a hotspot for flytipping.

Following public complaints of repeated misuse of the recycling bins for glass, cans and paper, the bins have now been removed.

A council spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, this recycling point became the focus for flytipping, with residents advising that items such as plant pots, stools and suitcases, as well as black bags full of household waste, were being dumped at the recycling point, requiring council action.”

It comes after members of Tranent Wombles had been out to clean the area and were left “flabbergasted” by the litter on display, which included trolleys and rubbish being found in the water next to the store.

Sharon Macleod from the Wombles said: “We were totally flabbergasted. After the initial shock and a quick discussion on where to start, we rolled up our sleeves and got stuck in.

“We have an amazing group of volunteers and, within a couple of hours, we collected over 50 bags of rubbish and other flytipped household waste.

“There was also a number of bags of rubbish chucked in the water with trolleys and recycle bins.

“We got what we could out but there are still a number of trolleys still in, as we’d need someone with waders to get in and hook them up.”

Following this clean-up from the Wombles, the council has now removed the recycling bins.

The council spokesperson continued: “A local environmental action group, Tranent Wombles posted on their Facebook page that they had been to the area and collected 50 bags of rubbish and flytipped material.

“Whilst we are very grateful to the group of volunteers for their positive actions helping to care for their local environment, it was clear that repeated misuse of the recycling bins was causing serious problems.

“Larger items and household waste was being deposited outside the bins and unfortunately on several occasions it was discovered that the bins had been forced open, with household waste also placed into them, rendering the contents of the bin unsuitable for recycling."