Hillingdon Council has announced plans to remove all 700 dedicated dog waste bins across the west London borough. Dog owners will be told to put their pets' poo in ordinary litter bins or take it home.
The council said scrapping the bins will save £160,000 a year, with £60,000 of that going towards extra street cleaning. It added that a separate dog waste collection service is no longer needed, as the 14.5 tonnes of dog poo collected every month can be handled by its existing general waste bins.
Concerns over more dog mess
The plan has raised concerns that it could lead to more dog mess being left on pavements and in parks. The Ruislip Residents' Association has warned that some dog bins already overflow under the current collection service.
The association has also criticised the council for not publishing a list or map showing where owners can dispose of their pets' waste once the bins disappear. A council report acknowledged the risk of an increase in dog fouling, but said it could be managed through signs, public information campaigns and enforcement.
Decision without consultation
The decision was approved without a formal public consultation, prompting further criticism from the residents' association. Council officers considered keeping the bins or removing only those located near ordinary litter bins, but rejected both options because a separate collection service would still be needed.
Instead, litter bins in parks and popular dog-walking spots will receive stickers reading: 'I can take dog waste too'. The dedicated dog poo bins will then be removed in phases. The council's report described scrapping the bins as 'the most effective and efficient option available to the council'.
