Litter Bins Phases 1 and 2

25 March 2026

Well done, Cllr Rebecca – that’s what we call first-class action! 👏

Thank you for your incredibly fast response and clarity on dog waste bins so quickly. This is exactly the kind of action our community appreciates.

On another additional question raised yesterday about the damage to the fence due to the new path being installed on Day House Lane opposite the entrance to Coate Water, I missed the response. Has this incident been raised with SBC Highways?

Kind regards

Peter 

Coate (Badbury Park) Residents Working 

 

 

Dog Waste Disposal – What Residents Need to Know

Following questions raised at the Remus Open Surgery on 24 March 2026, thanks to Cllr Rebecca Banwell-Moore and Cllr Chris Watts SBC), here is a clear summary of the rules around dog waste disposal for residents.

Legal Requirements in Swindon

Under the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO):

  • Dog owners must pick up dog waste immediately on all public land
  • Failure to do so can result in:
    • A £100 fixed penalty notice, or
    • Prosecution with fines of up to £1,000

This rule applies across the borough and is enforced by Swindon Borough Council.

Where Can Dog Waste Be Put?

If your dog fouls in a public area, please:

  • ✔️ Use red dog waste bins
  • ✔️ Use black public litter bins
  • ✔️ Take it home and put it in your general household (black) bin

👉 Dog waste should always be securely bagged before disposal.

Where NOT to Put Dog Waste

For safety and hygiene reasons, dog waste must not be placed in:

  • ❌ Recycling bins
  • ❌ Garden waste bins
  • ❌ Food waste bins

Important Reminders

  • 🚫 Leaving dog waste on pavements, grass, or in hedges is considered littering
  • 🚫 Putting dog waste in private bins without permission is also not allowed
  • 🚫 Dogs are not permitted in enclosed children’s play areas under the PSPO

Reporting Issues

Residents can help keep the area clean by reporting:

  • Full or damaged dog bins
  • Persistent dog fouling in specific areas

This can be done via the Swindon Borough Council website.

Exceptions

  • The rules do not apply to assistance dogs

Working Together as a Community

We kindly ask all residents to follow these rules to help keep Badbury Park clean, safe, and pleasant for everyone.

Peter 

Coate (Badbury Park) Residents Working Group Coordinator

Subject: Clarification on Dog Waste Disposal Policy - Remus Open Surgery 

Dear Ward and Parish Councillors,

Further to the question on dog poo raised at the Remus Open Surgery. The UK policy is that dog waste may be disposed of in public litter bins provided it is securely bagged. This includes both standard litter bins and those specifically designated for dog waste. Typically, such waste is processed via energy recovery (incineration), meaning the type of bin is not usually significant.

However, dog waste should not be placed in recycling, garden waste, or food waste bins due to contamination risks and public health considerations.

Where no public bin is available, it is expected that the waste is taken home and disposed of in the general household waste. Additionally, leaving dog waste in inappropriate locations (such as hedges or pavements), or disposing of it in private bins without permission may be considered littering and could result in a fine.

We were unable to confirm the specific policy of SBC in this regard and would be grateful if you could clarify this with the relevant recycling or waste management team.

Kind regards,

Peter 

Coate (Badbury Park) Residents Working Group Coordinator 

Response from SBC 

In Swindon, a borough-wide Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) requires dog owners to pick up pet feces immediately on all public land. Failure to do so can result in a £100 fixed penalty notice or prosecution with fines up to £1,000. Waste must be disposed of in designated red/black dog bins or standard council litter bins. 

Key Details of the PSPO and Disposal:

The Law: The PSPO (2025–2028) makes it a criminal offence not to pick up after your dog, or to take dogs into enclosed children's play areas.

Disposal: Use designated red dog waste bins or any black public litter bin.

Home Disposal: Bagged dog waste should be placed in your household black wheeled bin, not recycling.

Reporting: Residents can report full or damaged dog bins to the Swindon Borough Council via their website.

Exceptions: The order does not apply to assistance dogs. 

If you have a persistent problem with dog fouling in a specific area, you can report it to the council as an environmental issue”.

 

 

 

 

It may be helpful to share a bit of background about the litter bins on Badbury Park. There were no dog 🐕 bins on Badbury Park, and all litter bins are for mixed waste, including dog poo. However, it costs each household around £10 per year (about £10,000 annually in total) in 2025 to empty all the bins across Phases 1 and 2, whether they’re used or not.

Back in 2020, the developers removed all litter bins except those at the play park, and there wasn’t any noticeable increase in litter or dog waste. Residents were encouraged to take dog waste home and dispose of it in their own bins. The bins were later reinstated  in 2024 to allow the S106 POS to be signed off.

Many of the bins don’t appear to be used as frequently as the ones near the play area by the Co-op.

The Coate (Badbury Park) Residents Working Group are constantly in touch with Remus Property Manager about the possibility of installing a larger waste bin at the play area and reviewing all other litter bins.

Alongside this, keeping the area tidy can really be helped by small community actions - such as occasional litter picks, encouraging pride in our development, and householders picking up litter outside their homes, especially after recycling day.

We would love to hear of any issues or ideas residents have on Badbury Park and your can contact us at: coatebadburypark@gmail.com or visit our Website : e-voice.org.uk/badburypark