Forum Topic

cleaning up parks?

Went to North Acton playing fields today, which was awash with rubbish, as all the rubbish bins had been removed (even in the children's playground).  Presumably the council did this.  When did this happen and does anyone know anything about replacement bins?

Kim Bobsin ● 2876d24 Comments

That's good some have been put back.

Janice Evans ● 2771d

Interestingly, I noticed that bins have been re-instated in North Acton Playing Fields, but fewer than before.  There are 4, one in each of the corners of the park.

Kim Bobsin ● 2772d

Does anyone know the result of this experiment of removing the waste bins from open spaces.

Janice Evans ● 2783d

If you are worried about the wheelie smelling then you also have the choice of putting dog poo down the loo.  I've always "emptied" disposable nappies into the loo when it is easy to do so.  It stops any bin inside or out smelling so much!It is quite disgusting to find that children in particular can't use the parks properly because there is faeces wherever it comes from in the bushes or on the grass.

Philippa Bond ● 2868d

If we're comparing baby and dog poo, I don't think any dog owner is going to use cloth bags for their dog poo, put it down the toilet and wash the bag like you would with a nappy.  I put my dog poo bags in my wheelie bin and it goes out with the rubbish. I use biodegradable poo bags so I don't see an issue with it going to landfill. People are just lazy. 

Tania Bapuji ● 2869d

It's something to think about Philippa as it had not occurred to me before -as much as I love my dog the idea does not appeal to me but it's a good point.

Claire Rutland ● 2869d

Well, I wonder what the mother did with the poo that her child was depositing under a bush in Maytrees Park yesterday at 6pm.  There are no bins in that park either.  You would normally "empty" a nappy into the loo before either washing the nappy or wrapping it for disposal - so what's the problem?

Philippa Bond ● 2869d

Philippa, because they are bagged in plastic and you shouldn't flush plastic.Also many dog walkers tie the pooh bags, trapping air inside so it won't flush.

Kim Rugg ● 2870d

What?  The council?

Sarah Vickers ● 2870d

Why not put it down the loo?

Philippa Bond ● 2870d

I have just come back from walking the dog in this park , it is not the nearest park to me so I am not a regular but it was virtually litter free so I must have come after the clean up . Dog faeces is an issue though as although I took the bag home because of the every 2 weeks  rubbish collection the rubbish collectors will have to wear pegs on their noses!

Claire Rutland ● 2871d

Do you have any adjacent recycling banks?  If you have - have you checked on them?

Philippa Bond ● 2872d

The park will continue to be litter picked at the usual frequency, daily including Saturdays & Sundays. We will monitor the impact and review the frequency as we are aware of the issues with dog mess. We have completed the first 4 weeks of the 16 week trial, measuring how much litter is collected in the park under normal conditions. Now we will monitor the amount of litter we collect from the park over the next 12 weeks with no bins. We will endeavour to remove any waste which is hazardous to health as soon as possible, please notify us via Parks@ealing.gov.uk if you see something that needs to be removed urgently.

Maire Lowe ● 2872d

The dog poo bags will end up in the wrong bins surely.

Janice Evans ● 2873d

I have just been up to North Acton Playing Fields and yes it is surprisingly litter free apart from the poop bags, which owners should take away with them.  It will be interesting to see how much litter has been left after a hot weekend.

Libby Kemp ● 2874d

Tania, I think this is what they are hoping. I am open minded and await results of the experiment. I have ben walking my dog once a day and running in the Noel road playing fields and appart from the neat little piles of  bagged dog pooh where the bins used to be, it is pretty litter free. And I dispose of the pooh bag in the bins along the parade of shops on Horn lane.

Kim Rugg ● 2874d

As a dog walker I'd like to apologise for those ignorant people giving me a bad name.If there are no bins, take the bag with you. Why leave them in piles in the park? Idiots.

Tania Bapuji ● 2874d

You couldn’t make it up.

Clare Gittins ● 2874d

What a daft experiment.  More bins and regular emptying is the answer.

Sarah Vickers ● 2874d

A friend who walks his dog  in the early morning says that neat piles of dog poo in bags have replaced the bins.

Maire Lowe ● 2874d

Will be interesting to see the outcome of this experiment.

Janice Evans ● 2875d

Email reply today from Ealing Parks:We're trialling an experiment with environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy to test whether removing litter bins from public areas actually cuts litter levels. This experiment is running at North Acton Playing Fields and Maytrees Rest Garden. A range of anecdotal evidence suggests removing bins actually cuts the litter levels. But no one has ever done an experiment to test this – that’s why we are working with Keep Britain Tidy on this project. We have already been monitoring litter and bin usage for four weeks prior to removing the bins. We’ll continue to monitor litter for four weeks now the bins have gone, and then for another four weeks down the line. We’ll be collecting and weighing the litter dropped on the ground and in the bins. We’ll also be talking to park users to gather their views. Kind regardsDavid FarrellParks

Kim Bobsin ● 2875d

Thanks, Mairi, have emailed him now as well.

Kim Bobsin ● 2875d

There are lots of threads on other social media about  North Acton playing fields. I don't understand why the bins have been removed as everyone knows that they are in constant use by dog walkers, people with small children older persons, indeed all locals who like the public space. Fortunately the leader of the Council lives quite close and would be delighted to explain. Send your comments to Julian Jbell@ealing.gov.uk. He is always delighted to hear from local residents.

Maire Lowe ● 2875d