Dog faeces left on selected beaches and reserves in South Australia’s City of Noarlunga have been cut by 90 percent during a trial of special dog litter bins. The bins, along with dispensers containing free plastic bags for pet owners to clean up after their pets, were placed at various locations for six months.
“These results are particularly pleasing as previously these sites had very high levels of dog faeces,” said City Manager, John Comrie.
Analysis of the 90 percent reduction revealed supplying plastic bags was crucial to the success of the trial. Council is now considering a further trial where the dispensers would be attached to normal litter bins, effectively making every public bin a ‘dog litter bin’.
“As we could offer this service at one tenth of the cost of providing custom built dog litter bins, this proposal will receive very close attention,” John Comrie said. He added that the main locations for the bins would be on reserves and along the foreshore.
Noarlunga’s Dog Consultative Group, which instigated the dog bins trial, is also considering a number of other initiatives such as the creation of Dog Trails and Dog Parks with enclosed areas where dogs can be exercised without a lead.
A public eduction campaign about Noarlunga’s dog by laws is also planned because, while it is an offence for owners not to pick up dog faeces left by their dogs, this is difficult to police and education is generally regarded as the best solution.
For further information contact Keith Arnold, Communications Executive, telephone (08) 8384 0623.
