Bottle bother was a blight on the community

The remnants of the Christmas and New Year celebrations created a sea of bottles all around the bins during the first weeks of January.

Council staff appear to have finally cleared the backlog after contractor Viridor finally emptied the full bottle banks.

And it is understood the local authority is calling on the firm to increase their collections to prevent similar scenes.

Tweeddale Councillor Robin Tatler said he had received a few emails from incensed members of the community about the problem.

He added: "The bottle banks have been a nightmare over the festive period.

"I will be speaking to Jason Hedley regarding the arrangement we have with Viridor and how we can push them to increase the regularity of their collections, as they are clearly not doing it enough.”

He added: “I’d like to get the message across to people, that if the bottle banks are full don’t leave the bottles there. You will have to go back with your bottles when it is emptied.”

The remnants of festive cheer left every bottle bank in Peebles bursting at the seams.

And there are fears that the mess will put people off from recycling.

One local recycler said: “It’s so frustrating, I am trying to do my bit by recycling my glass and I do find it annoying to have to take them back home with me.

"I can understand why people just pop them at the side, but then again, with everyone doing it you can see the result.

"Surely it is common sense to empty these bins more frequently over the festive period?”

Signs have now been put onto the bins instructing locals not to leave bottles outside the banks if they are full.

Meanwhile calls have been made from a Peebles Community Councillor concerned at the pavements being blocked by refuse bins.

Allan McKenzie has requested that council staff leave bins at the side of the road once emptied as they are blocking safe pedestrian access for wheelchair users, the elderly and people with prams.