The Bag It, Bin It, Campaign!
Enveco NW Environmental Services and Blackpool Council have come together to encourage responsible dog ownership and to stop the dog mess around Blackpool.
Enveco and Blackpool Council staff will issue a fixed penalty notice of £100 to dog walkers who are witnessed failing to pick up their dog’s mess. It is also an offence to not have the means to pick up and officers will be raising awareness through educating and formally warning dog walkers of their responsibility to have the means to pick up. Repeated warnings will result in a fixed penalty notice of £100 being issued. If the case goes to court this could cost the dog walker up to £1,000.
Blackpool has over 1,000 litter bins across the borough, which all accept dog waste and are regularly serviced, so there is no excuse not to Bag it, Bin it. The Bag It, Bin It campaign will commence in October to coincide with the darker nights and the clocks going back on 29th October.
Bag It, Bin It street stencils will be used throughout the town to encourage dog walkers to do the right thing and residents can request individual stencils to be sprayed outside their properties, which are temporary for approximately 3 to 6 months, by completing the online form below.
There is also a monthly do the right thing competition, which recognises responsible dog walkers who are witnessed picking up and/or have the means to do so, with a chance to win a month’s supply of dog food and various other prizes.
The campaign will also utilise high-profile bins throughout the town, social media and website updates, engagement events, and school education programmes.
Why?
Dog fouling is still an issue in our town, even though the majority of residents do the right thing and pick up after their dogs, there is still a minority of irresponsible dog walkers who continue to repeat the offence.
Dog fouling is not only offensive, it can be dangerous. Whilst rare, contact with dog excrement can cause toxocariasis – a nasty infection that can lead to dizziness, nausea, asthma, and even blindness or seizures.
Toxocariasis is an infection caused by small worms found in the poo of some dogs, cats, and foxes. It’s rare but can sometimes cause serious problems.
Find out more about Toxocariasis using this link.
Deputy Mayor, and Chair of Enveco’s Board, Councillor Major Adrian Hoyle said:
“It’s excellent to see Enveco and Blackpool Council working together to highlight a serious and offensive nuisance around the borough – whilst rewarding those responsible dog walkers who are doing the right thing to Keep Blackpool Tidy”.
Councillor Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said:
“We regularly receive complaints about dog fouling around Blackpool, however, there’s only a small percentage of dog walkers who actually leave dog mess behind. I am delighted that Enveco and Blackpool Council are working together to challenge those who are not doing the right thing whilst recognising responsible dog walkers.
The Bag It, Bin It, Competition!
Competition Terms And Conditions!
The competition will be running for 3 months, and will be drawn and announced on the below dates:
- Friday 24 November 2023
- Friday 22 December 2023
- Friday 26 January 2024
Winners will be contacted via email and be asked to collect their prize from Layton Depot. The dog food is a bag of dry biscuits for 1 dog, maximum cost of £40.00, and entrants must upload their image by the 20th of each month.
How YOU Can #Getinvolved
If you are a dog walker, please pick up after your dog and ensure you have the means to pick up. Often the autumn and winter nights divert dog owners to exercise their dogs closer to home, through residential streets, so if you don’t pass a bin please take it home or change your routes.
If you find a lot of dog fouling in your area request a dog stencil to encourage dog walkers to do the right thing using the below form, or you can report dog fouling using this link!
We also want to acknowledge all the dog walkers who already do the right thing, so if you have been seen by one of Enveco’s or Blackpool Council staff and have been given a card, please enter the competition above!