Funding agreed for new project to help maximise litter recycling in Chichester District

Funding has been agreed for a key project aimed at ensuring that more litter in Chichester District is recycled.

At their meeting on Tuesday 12 May, Chichester District Council’s Cabinet approved £170,000 for the project which will include reassessing litter bin locations, installing new bins in highly used areas and devising a behaviour change campaign aimed at encouraging more people to take their litter home so that it can be more effectively sorted and recycled.

“We have a beautiful district and as a council we want to ensure that we are effectively managing litter in our public spaces so that it stays as clean and attractive as possible,” explains Councillor Adrian Moss, Leader of Chichester District Council and Cabinet Member for Growth and Property. “What we have found is that simply providing more litter bins can doesn’t always get the right results, and so we need to rethink how waste is managed outside the home.

“As we look to the future, we want to make sure that the right types of litter bins are in the right places. We’ll also be combining this strategy with a campaign aimed at encouraging people to think differently about the litter that they generate and where they dispose of it.”

The district currently has around 600 litter bins and 250 dog mess bins and combined these are emptied 134,000 times a year. Initial analysis has highlighted that while some bins are extremely well used, there are others that are not well used, which could possibly be re-sited. Public recycling bins are not always efficiently used and can quickly become contaminated by general litter which is something that the council also wants to look at.

The new project would be split into three stages, with a new officer recruited specially for this work. Initially they would focus on carrying out a comprehensive review of litter bin provision, maintenance and servicing. This would include where current bins are located and how often they are used and assessing any options for enforcement.

The next stage would involve devising a district-wide strategy for managing litter which would include deciding on the best locations for litter bins, using evidence and data from the first stage to ensure that locations align with footfall and where waste is generated most, in order to create a more efficient emptying schedule.

In the final stage a public campaign would be developed to encourage residents and visitors to take their litter home with them and recycle the appropriate materials.

Cllr Moss adds: “Our overarching aim is to increase recycling rates and reduce litter by reshaping both infrastructure and behaviour. The idea is that this campaign will encourage residents and visitors to take greater responsibility for their waste—particularly by taking it home, where it can be more effectively sorted and recycled.

"By combining a thorough review of bin provision with strategic planning and clear, consistent communication, we can then create a cleaner environment while supporting wider sustainability goals.”