Litter
Help us keep west Suffolk a litter free zone by putting your rubbish in the bins provided. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 those caught littering can be issued a fixed penalty notice of £80 rising to £2,500 if this is taken to court.
To report a litter problem please contact customer services. We will clean up litter on land that we are responsible for, such as roads, pavements and public parks.
We can serve notices to the occupiers of business premises or private land requiring them to clear it. We can also take steps to prevent the land being defaced by litter again.
Why not organise a litter pick?
If you would like to organise a litter pick, visit our Love Where You Live page to find out more.
If you want to get inspired, you can read about litter picking events, across West Suffolk, in our Love Where You Live newsletter
#InTheLoop
As a nation, we consume more food and drinks 'on-the-go' than ever before, with coffees on the commute, a sandwich between meetings or chilled drinks with friends in the park. A nation on-the-go means we get through billions of plastic bottles and cans, many of which end up going to waste despite being recyclable.
94% of Brits want to see more recycling points in public and since 2018 Hubbub, an environmental charity, has been partnering with local authorities, charities and businesses to improve recycling-on-the-go.
#InTheLoop is the UK's biggest collaborative approach to boost recycling on-the-go, which was first launched in Leeds in 2018, followed by similar projects in Swansea, Edinburgh, Dublin, Wimbledon, Telford and Wrekin and Lambeth. It aims to make it easy for people to recycle drinks packaging while out and about - with the ultimate goal of reducing waste by encouraging switching to reusables.
With over fifteen #InTheLoop projects to date, Hubbub have found a proven solution to increasing recycling when people are out and about. West Suffolk Council have been awarded a £10,000 grant to purchase and install a network of 24 recycling on-the-go bins, so you can recycle your plastic bottles and cans when out and about. Find your nearest recycling bin at: Google maps - West Suffolk #InTheLoop.
Suffolk Against Litter campaign
For information about the Suffolk-wide litter campaign, please visit our Suffolk Against Litter page
Abandoned shopping trolleys
Abandoned trolleys can cause significant environmental issues as well as being a hazard for pedestrians, motorists and wildlife. They can also pollute and waterways and obstruct the flow of water.
If you notice an abandoned shopping trolley please report it to the supermarket that owns it directly. If you have done this and the issue has not been rectified then please contact Customer Services.
Broken glass
We are responsible for removing broken glass from public areas and not private property. We aim to remove broken glass within 24 hours if it has been found in a play area and within 48 hours in all other areas.
To report broken glass please contact Customer Services.
Dead animals
Where safe to do so, the council removes dead animals, such as deer, foxes and badgers from the public highway, where they are causing an obstruction or hazard. The service does not cover the removal of dead animals from private land. Once we have collected an animal we arrange for its disposal.
Wherever possible dead dogs and cats that are reported and collected will be taken to a vet and scanned for microchip information. We will then try to contact the registered owner.
To report a dead animal please contact Customer Services.
If you suspect that the dead animal has been a victim of a wildlife crime then please contact the police on 101.
Syringes and needles
Needles and syringes should be disposed of safely using a sharps box. Visit our Reporting drug related activity and drug litter page for information on what to do if you find a syringe or needle in a public area.
If you do receive a needle stick injury, please refer to the NHS website for advice: NHS - What should I do if I injure myself with a used needle?