Dog Fouling and Littering

Dog fouling in public areas is not simply an anti-social nuisance but a serious public health issue. Dogs act as a host for a parasitic worm called Toxicara canis. This worm lives in the dog's gut, and lays its eggs there. These eggs are passed out in the dog's faeces. If ingested by a child it grows into a grub which may travel to the child's eye and obscure their vision or may even make them blind. SinceSeptember 2002 all public land (ie pavements, grass verges, parks and open spaces) is covered by the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996.
An offence is committed under the Act if a person in charge of a dog fails to clean up after the animal has fouled in public open land, including the public highway. The offence carries a maximum fine of £1,000.
Fixed penalty notices carry an on the spot fine, which the offender can pay within 14 days, or have the case heard at the Magistrates Courts.

How do I report dog faeces that need clearing from public areas?
Waste Service and Street Scene Group have a responsibility to clear dog faeces from the public highway. If you wish to report dog faeces left by a dog owner on the public highway please email customer.services@bristol.gov.uk or telephoning 0117 9223838. You will need to provide a detailed description of where the faeces are located.
The enforcement of dog fouling is another part of the dog warden's role, which constantly promotes responsible dog ownership. If you require any further advice on dog related issues or you would like a copy of their "Dogs in Bristol" leaflet please contact them on: Tel: 0117 977 6004 or email: dog.warden@bristol.gov.uk

Around the Open Spaces in Henbury and Brentry there are dog waste bins please be responsible and pick up after your dog.. The dog warden has been around the Open Space and placed 20 signs on all the pedestrian access points to the open space. The dog Warden has been asked to patrol the open space due to the number of dogs fouling the area.


Litter
It is an offence to drop, throw, deposit or leave litter under Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Litter is defined as including all smoking related litter, such as cigarette ends. It also includes discarded chewing gum.
Street Scene Enforcement Team have the power to take action against those who drop litter by issuing a Fixed Penalty Notice. A Fixed Penalty Notice is an on the spot fine, if you are given a Fixed Penalty Notice you have 14 days to pay the fine.
If you fail to pay the Fixed Penalty Notice of £75, we will take prosecution action against you in the Magistrates Court. The maximum penalty on conviction for this offence is £2,500. If found guilty, you will also be given a criminal record.
What you can do?
Use the litter bins provided in the streets. Do not leave single black bin bags out on the street as this is classed as littering. Store your waste correctly and use the appropriate services for your waste.

Fly-tipping
If you dump any waste onto land or highway this is called fly-tipping and is illegal. Leaving as little as two black bags on the street when it is not your recycling and rubbish collection day is classed as fly-tipping.
Fly-tipped waste is a problem in Bristol. A large quantity of the waste dumped contains fridge freezers, builders rubble and mattresses which is littering our street scene, driving down property prices and costing the council tax payer an estimated £231,848 each year.
What can we do?
We will investigate complaints and incidents of fly-tipping where evidence is available.
We use a range of methods to help us identify who has fly-tipped waste in Bristol, including:
• CCTV which we can install anywhere
• We interview people
• can serve Legal Notices requesting information and the receiver of the Notice has a legal obligation to reply
• We work very closely with the Environment Agency and neighbouring Local Authority Enforcement Teams to make sure we catch the offenders.
Convictions for flytipping can carry a fine of up to £50,000 and/or up to 5 years imprisonment.
What can you do?
Please help us combat fly-tipping by reporting any fly-tipping in your area today.Simply complete the online report form that can be found at the Bristol city website.Alternatively you can contact the Customer Services Centrewill be more than happy to help.
Any information you can obtain about who has fly-tipped the waste would be very helpful to our Street Scene Enforcement Team. Information such as:
• Vehicle registration
• Brief description of the vehicle/s seen fly-tipping
• Brief description of the person/people seen fly-tipping
Photographic evidence if possible the above email: customer.services@bristol.
gov.uk
Tel: 0117 922 3838

Avonmouth Recycling Centre, Kingsweston Lane,
Avonmouth, Bristol BS11 0YS
Opening times
Winter time - From Monday 29 October 2007 till Sunday 30 March 2008 Bristol's Household Waste Recycling Centres will be open everyday from 8.00am to 4.15pm.
Summer time - From Monday 31 March 2008 till Sunday 26 October 2008 Bristol's Household Waste Recycling Centres will be open everyday from 8.00am to 6.45pm.