Litter and Dog bins

The Council receives many calls regarding litter and dog bin issues, so here you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions.

How many litter bins are there in Fareham?

There are 606 litter bins provided by the Council.  They are sited all over the borough in places such as shops, parks & open spaces, the foreshore, car parks and of course on our streets.

Is this enough litter bins - or too many?

Our many years of experience informs us that the service is adequately resourced in terms of number of bins in use and number of operatives (fully) employed to empty and dispose of the contents.

How often are they emptied?

The bins are emptied on a frequency varying from three times a day, in the busy pedestrian shopping areas, through to weekly in some suburban streets and greenways.  Familiarity tells us which bins need to be emptied more (or less) frequently than others.  Careful scheduling of collections means that the cost of the service is maintained at a level considered - value for money. 

What's happening to dog waste bins?

The Council, in line with many other local authorities is gradually replacing 'dog bins' with regular litter bins.  This is because street litter and dog waste can now be placed in any litter bin other than those located inside a play area.  Separate bins for dog waste were provided originally because it was felt that this material should be incinerated rather than sent to a landfill site.  Nowadays all street waste is sent to the Energy Recovery Facility where it's incinerated, so now there is no need to provide two different types of litter bin. 

In Fareham there are 606 mixed use litter bins or dog waste bins provided by the Council and only about 60 of these are the specific dog waste bins. Bins are sited all over the borough in places such as shops, parks & open spaces, the foreshore, car parks and of course on many streets.

How often do litter bins need to be replaced?

We try and make them last for at least 10 years, so around 3% of the total amount of litter bins in Fareham are replaced each year.  This is mainly due to wear and tear, length of service and sadly, vandalism.

How much does it cost to replace a litter bin or install an additional one?

It costs around £500 to replace an old bin and at least £200 a year to service the bin.

How many additional bins does the Council install each year?

Not very many.  We have already said that there are a sufficient number to provide the requisite service.  If we responded positively to all requests for additional litter bins the cost of the service would rapidly increase to a level some would regard as too expensive.  The visual impact of this type of street furniture and many residents reluctance to have a bin positioned near their property is also a consideration the council cannot ignore. 

How does the Council decide if it should install an additional litter bin? (And as a consequence: increase the cost of the service).

An assessment is made of how far away the nearest litter bins are to the site which has been suggested, whether it is close to a school route, a bus stop, a popular thoroughfare or a seating bench and if there is a history of complaints for the area. We also need to consider who owns the land, if an installation would raise objections from nearby residents, interfere with underground services or restrict a footway. Finally, we will monitor the site for a six week period to see if the reported problem is an on-going issue. This assessment helps the Council to maintain the optimum number of litter bins and keep the service costs to an acceptable level.

If you wish to report or discuss any of the above, please contact us on publicspacesfrontline@fareham.gov.uk or telephone 01329 236100.