Our cleaning standards follow the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse. The council's contractor carries out regular cleaning to make sure these standards are met. Some locations need more attention than others, so cleaning schedules are changed to manage different needs.
Planned work for litter bins
Litter bins are checked, emptied and cleaned at different times depending on location and need. If a bin only contains a little bit of waste, it may be left until the next scheduled check. The schedule is:
- street bins - checked around 3 times a week, usually Monday, Wednesday and Friday
- shopping area bins - checked daily Monday to Friday plus once between Saturday and Sunday
- park bins - these are usually checked on a Tuesday and Thursday (but the schedule can vary for each park)
Bank holidays, extreme weather, staffing levels and vehicle breakdowns may disrupt planned schedules.
There are around 800 litter bins in the area. Litter bins are provided for the small, everyday waste items which are made while you are out in public spaces. This includes:
- food packaging
- bottles
- cans
- bagged dog waste
Misuse of litter bins
Litter bins must not be used to dispose of household or commercial waste. This is fly tipping. We experience high levels of fly tipping at some bin sites. Each case of fly tipping is searched for evidence and then passed to our enforcement team when appropriate.
We monitor litter bin use and change provision or how often we service them where needed.
Litter
Litter and where it is continually changes. When piles of litter are found by contractors while working in the area, they have a responsibility to clear it or arrange to have it cleared as part of daily work.
High risk or difficult locations
Visible piles of litter often form at roundabouts, traffic signals and high speed roads. These sites need traffic management for staff safety, which results in extra cost and resources. This can take time to plan and implement.
Contractors will also respond to reports of litter where an area has fallen below standard.
Report litter or a litter bin issue
Before reporting an overflowing bin, consider the schedule above.
You can report:
- litter problems
- overflowing or damaged litter bins
- glass, needles, syringes or drug related items (these are handled as a priority)
Report a litter or litter bin issue
Tidy up campaigns
We work with Keep Britain Tidy who organise national tidy up campaigns such as the Great British Spring Clean.
The council also runs the Take Pride initiative, working with volunteers and community groups who want to keep their neighbourhoods clean and welcoming.