Stakeholder consultation: Street cleaning and litter

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1 Stakeholder consultation: Street cleaning and litter September-October 2014 Consultation summary Introduction In March 2014, the Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP) Joint Committee agreed changes to its street cleaning and litter bin services. These are explained in the section below. We are now consulting with local councils and community groups about how our cleansing services can meet local needs within the available resources. We are also asking how local councils may be able to contribute towards keeping their area clean. We are facing increasing challenges to deliver our services within existing budgets alongside increases in fuel, vehicle and staffing costs and changes to legislation. Our resources are limited and we need to focus them where they are most needed. We aim to improve efficiency while maintaining standards by taking a more targeted approach to keeping Dorset clean. Any changes we make will need to be cost neutral. We are also inviting local councils and community groups to nominate a local champion to act as a point of contact and help promote campaigns and volunteer involvement. Please read the summary of the policy changes and options, below. Once you have discussed the issues, please complete our questionnaire. See details at the end. Policy changes 1 Street cleaning In the context of this consultation, the term street cleaning refers to a range of services and activities including: mechanical street-sweeping manual street-sweeping manual litter-picking emptying litter and dog waste bins 1

2 resort cleansing (beaches and promenades) cleaning public toilets (some areas) Please note it does not include gully or drain clearance, which is a Highways role. Due to variations in needs and budgets across partner councils, the current (pre-dwp) level of service for each partner area will be maintained to ensure consistent standards. Cleansing across Dorset is carried out according to the following schedules*: Zone Areas Frequency Zone 1 Town centres Daily Zone 2 Residential areas of the towns 4-weekly Zone 3 Villages 8-weekly Zone 4 All other areas 26-weekly However, we will take a more responsive approach combining reactive and routine cleaning, freeing up resources to focus on priority or problem areas as required. We are consulting with councils and community groups to identify local priorities and issues as well as locations where our current level of cleansing could be reduced to focus resources elsewhere. We are also asking councils whether they to fund additional cleaning in specific areas. *We are unable to provide a detailed breakdown of cleansing schedules for each area. 2 Litter and dog waste bins a. Coastal resorts The new, standard approach is to provide coastal resorts with wheeled bins similar to the 240-litre bins for the Recycle for Dorset service, which can be secured to an anchor point. This has the potential to reduce the number of bins while providing extra capacity (most current litter bins are around 80 litres) and reducing the frequency of emptying. The standard set of bins can be increased during busy periods without making the area look untidy. Councils would have the option to provide purpose designed 2

3 housings (see example in Weymouth, above right) to improve the visual aspect of the area at their own expense. A standard colour scheme (black) will be used for all wheeled litter bins. However, individual councils would have the option to choose their own colour scheme for external bin housings at their own expense. Introducing wheeled bins in areas other than coastal resorts, such as town centres, could also have some benefits, including options for recycling. b. Compactor bins Options for solar-powered compactor bins are being explored by the DWP. These bins (see example from elsewhere, right) require much less frequent emptying and can also carry any branding or, potentially, advertising using printing or solarpowered screens. c. Rural locations Following the principle used in many rural environments and National Parks, litter bins will be removed from remote rural locations and lay-bys. In their place, new signs will be erected asking the public to take their litter home with them (see suggestion not actual design right). 3 Dog waste bins There are currently a number of sites where a general litter bin sits alongside a dog waste bin, both of which need emptying by litter bin crews. Dog waste can be placed in general litter bins and already is. There is no legislation preventing this. All dog waste bins will be gradually removed and dog-walkers encouraged to use the general litter bins for dog waste. Signage will be placed on general litter bins to advise that they can be used for both litter and dog waste. Additional litter bins may be needed at some sites, using wheeled bins instead of standard litter bins. 3

4 Have your say Thank you for taking the time to read this summary. Please take the opportunity to send us your council or group s comments by submitting one questionnaire on behalf of the organisation. There are two ways in which councils and groups can have their say: By completing the online questionnaire at By completing and returning a paper copy and returning it to: Consultation, Dorset Waste Partnership, Grove House, Millers Close, Dorchester, DT1 1SS Please make sure your response reaches us by Friday 31 October 201 What happens next? Once the consultation has closed, we will consider all the responses from local councils and groups. We will seek to engage further with councils and groups around any future changes, including further discussion around any suggestions you put forward via this consultation. Thank you. 4

5 Stakeholder Consultation: Street cleaning and litter About your organisation Organisation name Contact name Phone number address

6 Street cleaning Please refer to the definition of street cleaning and schedule in the summary document. Overall, how would you rate the current standard of cleaning in your area? Very good Fairly good Satisfact ory Fairly poor Very poor nmlkj Not appli cable Street sweeping nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj Litter picking nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj Litter bins nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj Dog waste bins nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj Resort cleansing nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj Toilet cleaning nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj Are there any locations (e.g. roads, open spaces) in your area that you feel would benefit from being cleansed more often than now? Are there any locations (e.g. roads, open spaces) in your area that you feel could be cleansed less often than now so that resources can be targeted elsewhere? Does your council/group have resources to make any financial contribution towards the level of cleansing in your area? nmlkj Yes nmlkj No nmlkj Possibly

7 If you answered 'yes' or 'possibly' would your council/group be willing to consider making a financial contribution towards any of the following options? Please tick all that apply. gfedc Street sweeping gfedc Litter picking gfedc Litter bin emptying gfedc Resort cleaning gfedc Toilet cleaning gfedc Dedicated street cleaning staff gfedc Other If 'other' please specify: Please give further details on how you could help: Are you aware of any ongoing problems with litter or fly-tipping near to the following types of facilities or businesses in your area? (Tick all that apply) Pubs Yes nmlkj No nmlkj Not applicable nmlkj Takeaways / fast food outlets nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj Bus stops nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj Taxi ranks nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj Roadside verges nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj Mini recycling centres (bring banks) nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj Schools nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj Other nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj If 'other' please specify: Please give details of specific locations (Pubs): Please give details of specific locations (Takeaways/fast food outlets): Please give details of specific locations (Bus stops):

8 Please give details of specific locations (Taxi ranks): Please give details of specific locations (Roadside verges): Please give details of specific locations (Mini recycling centres (bring banks)): Please give details of specific locations (Schools): How much do you agree that businesses should do more to deal with litter associated with them, for example cleaning up their frontage before closing? nmlkj Strongly agree nmlkj Agree nmlkj Neither agree nor disagree nmlkj Disagree nmlkj Strongly disagree

9 Litter and dog waste bins Does the council/group support the policy of removing litter bins from rural areas and lay-bys and replacing them with signs asking people to take their litter home? nmlkj Yes nmlkj No nmlkj Don't know Are there any specific locations where you feel existing litter bins should not be removed? Please give as exact locations as possible. Are there any locations where you feel existing litter bins create a problem and should be removed? Please give as exact locations as possible. Are there any locations where you feel litter bins should be emptied more frequently? Please give as exact locations as possible. If relevant to your area and subject to costs, would the council/group be willing to consider making a financial contribution towards any of the following options for wheeled litter bins? Please refer to the consultation summary for examples and tick any that may apply. gfedc Anchor point for wheeled bins gfedc External bin housing- black gfedc External bin housing- bespoke colour scheme gfedc Compactor bins

10 Is your organisation responsible for the following types of location within your area? Please tick all that apply. gfedc Parks and open spaces gfedc Playgrounds gfedc Recreation grounds gfedc Pedestrianised shopping areas gfedc Car parks gfedc Other If 'other' please specify: Should landowners be responsible for providing and servicing bins on private land? (Such as those mentioned in the previous question) nmlkj Yes nmlkj No nmlkj Don't know Does the council/group support the policy of gradually removing dog waste bins and using signage to advise dog-walkers to place dog waste in litter bins? nmlkj Yes nmlkj No nmlkj Don't know Any other comments? Are there any locations where you feel dog waste bins create a problem and should be removed? Please give as exact locations as possible. Are there any locations where new general litter bins would be needed for dog waste, either currently or when existing dog waste bins are removed?

11 Community Champions Would your council/group like to nominate a member to act as a community champion for recycling and tackling litter? nmlkj Yes nmlkj No nmlkj Would like more information If you answered 'yes', please provide their details: Name Telephone Thank you for completing the questionnaire. We appreciate you taking the time to have your say on street cleaning and litter bins in your area. We will use your comments and suggestions to help shape and refine the new street cleaning and litter policies, particularly in response to any local issues or priorities highlighted. We will contact groups individually to discuss options further.