Currently there are hundreds of bins scattered around the city.
Many were under-used because they were in the wrong location or too close to other bins, but they still needed to be regularly checked and emptied which took time and resource from the city’s cleaning team.
As grants from central government get smaller, we are forced to work within a very tight budget and achieve the same standards of service with far less resource.
By removing under-used bins, we can free up the Council’s hard-working crews to concentrate on clearing up rubbish from the city’s streets.
Your questions answered
Why are you removing the bins?
We have removed the litter bins to help optimise and improve the efficiency of our street cleansing teams. The bin removals will support street cleansing in maintaining standards with less budget and less resource available. How? Rather than driving to and from little used bins, our teams will now be able to spend more time providing essential litter picking. In addition we will now be able to ensure bins remain in a much better condition, as budgets won’t have to stretch as far to fund the replacement of bins when they are old and in poor condition.
What will happen if the litter/ dog fouling gets worse after our bins are removed?
Our street cleansing teams will be monitoring the locations where removals have taken place. Where there is a strong case, and litter/ fouling levels become problematic, operational teams will review the removals and either reinstate or rationalise other bins in the location.
Can I still request a new bin?
Yes, bins remain an important element in our street cleansing strategy. If you believe that a litter bin will help reduce litter levels then you can request one. Our teams will assess the area and if a litter bin is the cost effective solution, and the best intervention for the location, they will fit one.
What do I do with my litter/waste once the bin is gone?
If another litter bin is not available on your journey then you can take your waste home with you. The best place to dispose of your waste is through your domestic waste bins. This is because, unlike litter bins, the waste can be separated for recycling.
Are there any bins left?
Yes, there are still approximately 600 litter bins left in the city. Many of these remain in the most popular and visited locations city wide, where they are most needed and can help towards keeping our visitor attractions clean.
How did you decide what to remove?
Our teams used actual usage data for each bin, collected by the workers that empty the bins every week. Where litter bins are used infrequently, the resource costs exceed the benefit that those litter bins can supply. Any bins emptied 2 times a week or less were considered for removal for this reason, and only removed where evidence indicated that they did not supply a cost-effective litter intervention.
Surely we need more bins, not less, to support cleaner streets?
Litter bins are important street cleansing tools where they are placed in the right location. Where they are sited in the wrong place they draw considerable resource away from essential street cleansing tasks, they require considerable ongoing financial investment to maintain, and they can also act to increase litter and fly tipping not resolve it. Therefore bins are not always the right answer when you are looking to resolve litter. Instead of simply installing more bins, to effectively improve how bins manage littering, Exeter needs the right number of bins fitted in the right locations. This will be an ongoing process.
Does my area still have a street cleaner?
Yes, every street in Exeter is on a street cleansing schedule and will be visited by a street cleansing van. As part of the vans’ duties, they will litter pick and empty bins on their way through. How often a van will visit is dependent on the levels of litter generated in your street, and the levels of footfall that it receives.
What should I do if people drop litter before the sweeper visits?
How quickly can I expect a cleansing team once I have reported litter/ fouling?
When you report litter, dog fouling, or an overflowing bin, street cleansing teams will attend as soon as possible. This is usually the same day. However, where there are resource constraints you can expect collection to be no longer than 72 working hours for dog foul, or 5 working days for litter.
Can dog waste go in our black bin?
Yes, litter and dog fouling can be disposed of through your domestic waste collections. Dog fouling can go in your black bin and will be disposed of at the Energy From Waste Plant here in Exeter. Litter can be recycled where appropriate to do so.
