By VIVIENNE NICOLL

A PILOT project in the city centre to tackle the blight of unsightly commercial waste bins is to be rolled out across Glasgow.

The new scheme will be in place in the North West by September next year, the south of the city by December next year and the North East by March 2019.

The pilot was introduced at eight locations in the city centre in March following complaints about bulky, brightly coloured commercial waste bins littering streets and pavements.

It has resulted in the area being completely clear of the 460 bins which had previously been left lying about the area.

An evaluation carried out by Keep Scotland Beautiful on behalf of the council gave the city centre its highest cleanliness score in a decade.

As a result of the success of the scheme, it was decided it would be rolled out across the rest of the city.

The scheme means no trade waste containers are allowed to be stored on pavements or streets outwith designated collection times.

Waste contractors who fail to lift bins at the correct time have their bins confiscated and are charged by the council, with any bins not collected after 28 days disposed of.

It is the responsibility of businesses to find a waste contractor who will work with them to find ways of storing bins in their premises.

Kenny McLean, the city council's convener for neighbourhoods, housing and public realm, said: "I am delighted by the decision to make a phased roll-out of this project across Glasgow.

"The pilot showed how adopting these measures made the streets of the selected areas in the city centre cleaner, greener and safer.

"I look forward to the expansion of the scheme making Glasgow an even more pleasant place for everyone who lives, works or studies in the city as well as for our visitors."

The roll out will initially be targeted in areas of the city with the highest population.