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A West London council is set to remove all dog poo bins in the borough and will urge residents to use their own bins or public bins in an effort to save money.
Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet approved the policy on October 22, and is set to save £160,000 from the removals. According to the council, many of the 700 bins are “located in close proximity to standard litter bins.”
The council report also indicates that residents can safely dispose of the dog poo in household bins. As such, the council deems the current arrangement “no longer necessary.”
The service currently collects approximately 14.5 tonnes of dog waste each month, and around 174 tonnes per year. This will now transfer into the wider waste streams, however the council is satisfied that existing infrastructure is “capable of accommodating this change.”
It is the council’s view that this option “delivers the greatest operational simplification and financial benefit whilst maintaining accessible disposal facilities for residents and dog owners.” Of the £160,000 saved, £60,000 has been earmarked for street cleaning operations.
Hillingdon Council says that this funding will provide additional capacity for litter bin servicing in areas across the borough where increased demand may occur. The bins will be removed in phases, and residents will be informed of the remaining disposal options across the borough.
The council considered a range of options when conducting a review of the service, including retaining the existing dog waste bin network. However, it was not chosen as it would “not deliver any financial savings or operational improvements.”
The second option considered removing selected bins where other appropriate bins are available nearby. While this approach would have provided financial benefit, it would still require a dedicated collection service and “continue the complexity of operating two separate disposal systems.”
The council is aware of principal risks associated with the decision, including public concern, an increase in the use of letter bins, and an increase in people failing to pick up their dog’s poop all together. Despite this, the council is confident the risks can be managed through a phased programme, clear communications, signage and enforcement.
As part of the implementation programme, the local authority will provide advance notice through the use of temporary signage and stickers on litter bins. Stickers will be installed on selected litter bins, particularly in parks, open spaces and other popular dog walking locations, to reinforce the message that these bins can accept dog waste.
A “simple and positive message” such as "I can take dog waste too" will be used to increase awareness and encourage responsible disposal behaviour.
In recommending the decision, a council officer stated: “Having considered the operational, financial and service implications, officers conclude that the removal of standalone dog waste bins represents the most effective and efficient option available to the council.
"The proposal provides significant recurring financial savings, simplifies waste management arrangements, removes duplication within the existing infrastructure and retains accessible disposal routes for residents.
“The associated risks are considered manageable and can be mitigated through targeted reinvestment, communications and ongoing service monitoring. For these reasons, approval is recommended for the removal of all standalone dog waste bins across the Borough and the implementation of the associated operational and communications measures detailed within this report.”
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