Council told 'to do better' as bin removal leads to waste pile up in city park |
Council told 'to do better' as bin removal leads to waste pile up in city park
Dog walkers say a bin has been removed from the popular Cardiff park, but the council insists bins have only been repositioned with no reduction in numbers
The bin at Hailey Park was overflowing with dog poo(Image: Lee Mason)
Wales Online readers were shocked to learn that a bin used for dog waste in Hailey Park was removed, leading to frustrated dog walkers now leaving bags of dog mess where it used to be.
One local dog walker, Lee Mason, said he regularly sees bins overflowing and struggles to find places to dispose of waste while walking multiple dogs at once. He described it as a frequent issue, especially during busy periods when park use increases.
Hailey Park, in Llandaff North, is popular with dog walkers, but recent spikes in visitor numbers over the Easter holidays have added pressure on facilities. Lee believes the problem could be improved with either more bins or more regular collections, saying the current system often cannot keep up. He added that most dog owners do pick up after their pets, but are left with few options when bins are full or unavailable, which creates frustration for responsible owners. There is also confusion among park users about why the bin was removed in the first place.
Cardiff Council has said the bins were reviewed and repositioned to improve access for collection crews, with no overall reduction in provision. They say the changes allow vehicles to avoid driving on grass, helping protect the park environment.
The council also said a seven day collection service is now in place during busy periods and reminded visitors to take litter home where possible.
Commenter Davies P asks: “Why can’t people just take their dog mess home? It’s really not difficult. The same problem keeps happening with household rubbish too, with people leaving full carrier bags next to the bins instead of using them properly.”
Matt H replies: “Well the council could just empty the bins! We pay enough council tax.”
Rich P points out: “Last year in the Vale of Glamorgan the council removed around 160 bins, saying they were being misused for household waste. It is hard to see how taking bins away improves the overall litter problem, and I am sceptical about the reasoning. Was this simply a cost saving move for a council under financial pressure? As for irresponsible dog owners, there is a risk that waste bags will just end up dumped elsewhere or that some people will stop picking up after their dogs altogether.”
Roy W replies: “Don’t fine dog owners, at least they have picked it up and bagged it. The real issue is then trying to find a bin to put it in, and when you do, they are often overflowing. It is not really about dog owners, it is more about the council, the lack of bins in the first place and them not being emptied regularly enough.”
Cegin C agrees: “Why are there no red dog bins available? At least people are trying to dispose of their dog waste properly. Once again it feels like a poor decision from the council. Many people walking along the Welsh coastline or in the mountains have driven a long way to get there and are not within easy reach of home. They are then expected to carry dog waste back in their car, which is far from ideal. So what exactly are we paying council tax for if basic facilities like this are not being provided?“
Rebecca G adds: "The council really needs to do better. People pay for a service and expect it to be there. Taking bins away just feels like the easy option rather than fixing the problem. And for those saying dog owners should just take it home, maybe that same logic should apply to household waste too?! If it is all about responsibility, then it should go both ways when it comes to rubbish disposal.”
Deb M says: “It is ridiculous for the council to remove a bin when there was clearly a need for it. That said, it is still not an excuse for lazy dog owners to leave poo bags where the bin used to be.”
Luke B is amazed: “So you can be fined for leaving it there, yet the bins that make proper disposal possible are being removed. Why not just replace it with another dog waste bin so people can still walk their dogs there properly? It feels like councils are not thinking this through, only focusing on cost instead of practical solutions that actually help everyone.”
Jackie H is annoyed: “What is wrong with some dog owners? I am absolutely fed up with dog mess being left everywhere. It is disgusting and selfish behaviour.”
If people are doing the right thing by picking up after their dogs, but there are no bins available or they are constantly full, what are they actually supposed to do with it? What do you think the solution should be? Have your say in our comments section.