Bathnes and Bristol award contract to manage litter

Bath and North East Somerset has awarded a new Environmental Crime and Enforcement contract to company 3GS that will see specialist officers help tackle litter on the streets.

Litter and dog fouling enforcement officers will work across Bath and North East Somerset from the start of March with the ability to issue Fixed Penalty Notices to people who deliberately litter streets, parks and public places.

Under the 12-month agreement, which is at zero cost to the council, 3GS enforcement officers will operate a fixed fee model, which limits what 3GS can earn from the enforcement contract. Any funds received above cost will be passed on to the council or used by 3GS for education and promotional purposes.

The same contract has been awarded in Bristol, where Mayor Marvin Rees has pledged that Bristol will be measurably cleaner by 2020 as a direct result of 3GS officers tackling environmental crime in the city.

Bob Goodman, cabinet member for Development and Neighbourhoods at Bathnes, said: “We want to be firm but fair and we have been assured by 3GS that the enforcement officers will be proportionate in the way they go about this task. However the message is clear, please don’t drop litter and dump waste otherwise you risk a hefty Fixed Penalty Fine.

“Bath and North East Somerset is a truly beautiful place and it both frustrates and saddens me when I see litter dumped in our streets, parks and in public places at considerable cost to the council. I hope this scheme will act both as a deterrent as well as educate people about littering and dog fouling and the cost it has not just to the council but to the environment that we all share.

“Thinking back to last summer’s heatwave our parks and green spaces were almost daily left in an awful mess by some people having picnics and leaving all their waste behind. It was horrible to see. It isn’t difficult to find a bin and dispose of your rubbish and if the bin is full then the message is take your rubbish home and recycle it or put it in the general waste. This pilot scheme with enforcement officers will be monitored carefully, and we will listen to local views and do what’s best to keep our area clean and tidy at no extra cost to the council.”

Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees said: “Making the city a cleaner, more pleasant place to live and work remains one of my main priorities. Over recent weeks many people have contacted me about unacceptable levels of fly tipping and littering in their areas, so it really need tackling. Keeping our city clean is the responsibility of everyone; we can all take small actions which go a long way, like reporting fly tippers and ensuring we always pick up our dog mess.”