Marina removes bins after dog poo left in them
VISITORS to an East Staffordshire beauty spot have been left bemused after all of the rubbish bins were removed.
Anyone who finds themselves with litter while at Barton Marina must now take it home with them.
Bosses at the site blamed dog walkers using general rubbish bins to dispose of their pets’ mess for the decision.
Bins were previously placed around the marina to help keep it clean and tidy. After spotting the change, visitors took to social media to ask for an explanation.
The bins were meant to be used for everyday waste only, which meant the waste disposal company the marina uses would not empty the bins if they were contaminated with dog mess. A spokesman for Barton Marina said: “The bins on site are for general waste. “Unfortunately dog walkers have used these to deposit bags of poo in to; the end coming when the waste disposal company told us they will no longer empty the bins at the marina because dog owners are depositing these bags and some [bags] are not even sealed. They are not dog waste bins.
“One bin was covered in poo when the bag was emptied and our cleaners had to deal with that. It was disgusting.”
The marina has provided a lifeline to many during the pandemic as it welcomed people from across the village and beyond during the lockdowns to make the most of its natural beauty.
In the new-look Countryside Code, there are clearer rules for dog walkers to bag up their pets’ poo and take it home to their own bin if there are no public waste bins.
The updated version of the code, which provides advice for visitors to natural places, has been launched on the 70th anniversary of the booklet’s first publication in 1951.
It is the first refresh of the Countryside Code in more than a decade. The new version, launched by government agencies Natural England and Natural Resources Wales earlier this year, has been drawn up following an online survey that garnered nearly 4,000 responses, and has been welcomed by rural and farming groups.
One bin was covered in poo and our cleaners had to deal with that. It was disgusting.
Barton Marina