Dog Bins in South Woodham Ferrers

Published: 08 June 2023

Dog waste bins are mainly provided by town and city council councils across South Woodham Ferrers for use by dog walkers to dispose of small amounts of dog waste whilst walking their dogs. Please ensure any dog waste is securely wrapped in a small plastic bag/poop scoop bag.

Dog waste bins are not designed for carrier bags full of dog waste from your garden, this results in them being filled too quickly and overflowing. The town council receive regular complaints around overflowing dog bins, and from recent observations, this is caused by locals disposing of waste from home. These bins are NOT designed for this and may be against the law.

What should I do with dog waste from my garden?

You should put dog poo into your BLACK wheeled bin in a sealed plastic bag or 2 to avoid any spillage.

You can dig 5-inch holes in your garden, use biodegradable corn bags to bury it in the soil and the microorganisms in the soil will degrade it.

Do not compost it. Alternatively, if you don’t wish to do this, you can take it to an Essex County Council recycling centre.

What should I do if there isn’t a dog bin close by?

If you are out walking your dog and there isn’t a dog waste bin close by, you can place dog waste (again so long as it is securely wrapped) into a litter bin, but not waste from home. If either bin is full or not available, then please take it home and dispose of into your own BLACK household waste. Please do not litter next to a full bin.

Litter bins are mainly provided by town and city councils across South Woodham Ferrers for use by the public to dispose of their litter when they are out and about. Litter bins should be used for this purpose ONLY. If there isn’t a litter bin close by then, please take your litter home.

How do I report an overflowing or damaged dog bin?

You can report this on the Chelmsford City Website. There is a simple contact form that takes just a minute to complete. You can also call 01245 606606. They usually respond within 3 days.

What is the Legislation regarding dog fouling?

The Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 allows local authorities to designate most public land as poop scoop areas without having to refer to central government. Previously, local authorities had to secure the agreement of central government to create the necessary byelaws. Under the new Act, failure to clear up on designated land is an offence subject to a maximum fine of £1000. Local authorities can also give offenders the option of paying a fixed penalty rather than go to Court. The main legislation relating to dog fouling is dealt with under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Part IV). This only applies to England; legislation is slightly different in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Information from Keep Britain Tidy website. www.keepbritaintidy.org