Edinburgh is one of the world’s great historic cities. Its Old and New Towns form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised internationally for their remarkable architecture, town planning and historic character. With that recognition comes a responsibility: protecting Edinburgh’s heritage is not simply about preserving buildings. It is also about caring for the streets and public spaces around them.
The “Market Street Midden” outside Waverley Station, at one of the principal gateways to Edinburgh’s historic city centre.
Image ©Steve Kydd – 15/08/2026
For many visitors, their first experience of central Edinburgh comes as they step out of Waverley Station. Market Street sits directly beneath the Old Town, overlooked by some of the city’s most important historic buildings and only a short walk from the Royal Mile. It should provide an impressive introduction to a World Heritage city.
Unfortunately, one small corner has become the
“The Market Street Midden.”
A refuse bin outside Waverley Station is frequently surrounded by overflowing rubbish. Bags, food packaging, cups, and other litter accumulate around it, sometimes creating an extraordinary mess at one of the city’s main gateways. Photographs of the problem have repeatedly appeared on social media, yet the same scene keeps returning.
A Seagull eyes the detritus available at the Market Street Midden.
Image ©Steve Kydd 15/08/2026
An overflowing bin might seem trivial compared with the major challenges involved in conserving a historic city, but the condition of the public realm matters. World Heritage status is not something that exists only above street level, on plaques, monuments and magnificent façades. The pavements, closes, streets and entrances through which residents and visitors experience Edinburgh are part of the setting too.
This is particularly important when Edinburgh increasingly promotes itself as a premium international destination. Visitors are encouraged to appreciate (and contribute financially towards) the maintenance and management of the city they have come to see. It is therefore reasonable to expect the most prominent parts of the historic centre to be maintained to a correspondingly high standard.
The Market Street Midden in July 2026.
Image ©Steve Kydd 2025
The Market Street Midden – a relatively simple problem to solve.
The frustrating thing about the Market Street Midden is that this should be a relatively simple problem to solve. If a bin repeatedly overflows, the collection frequency, capacity or location clearly needs to be reconsidered. Continually clearing the rubbish after it accumulates tackles the symptom rather than the cause.
The Market Street Midden – not a new problem – 2025
The Market Street Midden in 2025 – a spectacular display!
Image ©Steve Kydd 2025
Edinburgh’s World Heritage status is a tremendous asset, but it also carries an obligation. Caring for the city means looking after its buildings, monuments, and historic streets, but it also means handling the mundane tasks properly.
Sometimes protecting the appearance of a World Heritage Site begins with something as simple as emptying the bins.
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