Bigger bins with seagull resistant lids have been deployed at Swanage litter hotspots in a bid to keep the town tidy.
Just in time for the Easter holidays, Dorset Council has delivered new public bins and positioned them at the seafront’s busiest locations, in the latest attempt to provide sufficient capacity for rubbish on busy days.
Seagulls are thwarted in their attempts to pinch chips from the new bins by the new lids
Smaller heritage bins will be retained on narrow pavements
Not all the bins are being replaced and many of the smaller heritage bins that were new for 2021, are being retained in areas where the pavement is narrow or there is less demand. Some of the green barrel bins are also being kept in an attempt to find the best solution.
One of the big problems last summer was as the bins got full, the seagulls moved in and then the wind blew the rubbish onto the beach.
So the existing bins will be getting flaps fitted to help deter seagulls from pulling out rubbish in search of chips and other tasty morsels.
In 2021 litter often escaped towards the beach, aided and abetted by seagulls
The smaller heritage bins will now be fitted with seagull deterrent flaps to reduce the open access
New seagull proof lid
The new bins have a lid that automatically closes after being used, leaving a seagull with little chance of getting its beak in.
The most recent problem dates back to 2020 when it became difficult for Dorset Council to collect rubbish from the wheelie bins due to the lack of LGV bin lorry drivers.
The new smaller bins deployed in 2021 could be emptied by a van driver. However the reduction in capacity and the ease that seagulls could access the litter, left rubbish strewn across the seafront.
The new seagull proof lid automatically closes after use
A new bin positioned by Prince Albert Gardens near Swanage Pier
Big Belly bin
In 2021, following discussions with Swanage Town Council, who had to deploy extra people to collect rubbish, Dorset Council came up with the barrel bins and even tried out the Big Belly bin, but they were not enough to cope.
The Big Belly was solar powered and compressed the rubbish
Some of the green barrel bins will stay but seagull deterrent flaps will be installed
Hope to avoid last summer’s problems
This year, in order not to repeat the problems of last summer, Dorset Council’s waste services and Swanage Town Council met in early March 2022 to discuss plans for the forthcoming season.
Alongside the agreement to provide the new bigger bins, Dorset Council also said it would deploy a better waste management plan.
Rubbish hot spot on Shore Road near the shopping area
The Square is a popular place to eat fish and chips on a sunny day
Dorset Council waste management plan during peak season
- A morning collection with a refuse lorry, as per the current arrangement
- Two full time Swanage-based operatives to work on a four days on / two days off rota from 11 am to 7 pm to provide a 7 day a week service of continuous emptying and tipping of waste
- Regular morning street sweeping by a hand cart operator
The arrangements will remain under review and it’s hoped that it will be third time lucky with the new bins.
The original wheelie bins in 2020
The replacement smaller heritage bins in 2021 – easier to empty for both waste operatives and seagulls!
By August 2021, the smaller bins had been replaced by green barrel bins with a larger capacity but still vulnerable to seagulls
The latest attempt to solve the problem – new bins with lids arrived on Friday 8th April 2022
