As Edinburgh continues its bid to become the greenest city in Scotland, a new project to reduce landfill waste was hailed a success on Friday.

Scores of businesses in the capital have signed up to recycle their food waste as part of the initiative which not only helps the environment but ploughs money back into a local charity.

The Edinburgh Cyrenians charity, which helps create training and job opportunities for homeless people in the capital, has set up CORE  - a project which recycles food waste from businesses around the city, turning it into compost.

The profits made are reinvested back into the charity.

Takeaways, restaurants, pubs and hotels are all getting on board the project

John Clements, of the Wannaburger restaurant, said: "The amount of food waste going into landfill is just unbelievable.  The fact the Cyrenians are doing it and the profits go back into social projects is just fantastic. Everyone's a winner really."

At the Edinburgh Capital hotel, its estimated half a tonne of waste is being saved from landfill every month as a result.

Claire Steven, of Edinburgh Capital Hotel, said: "We were quite anxious at first as to whether it was going to work or not, but it certainly has been for us."

The charity now plans to expand its service into Fife.