All 700 dog poo bins to be scrapped in London borough

A west London borough has announced plans to scrap all 700 dedicated dog waste bins.

Hillingdon Council has told dog owners to put their pets’ poo in ordinary litter bins or take it home.

The council added that removing the bins will save £160,000 a year, with £60,000 of that money going towards extra street cleaning.

Hillingdon Council also said there is no longer a need for a separate dog waste collection service, and the 14.5 tons of dog poo collected every month can be handled by its existing general waste bins.

However, the plan has raised concerns about whether 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.

It 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.

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’.