Drop it and cop it!

Is one of the hard hitting messages in a new anti-litter campaign, launched by Thanet District Council this summer.

A follow up to the successful Thanet is Beautiful campaign, which highlighted the natural beauty of our area and why everyone should work together to keep it beautiful, the new campaign concentrates on the more unpleasant aspects of all types of litter.

The year long campaign is focusing first on our busy high streets and beaches during the summer season and is aiming to raise awareness of how much of a problem litter is.

Did you know?

Each year, the council’s bill for cleaning up Thanet amounts to around £3 million and that has to be picked up by every taxpayer.

Look out for the campaign slogans

The images remind people that if “you chew it, you MUST bin it” and there are “no butts, bin it”, with one design showing man’s best friend with the message “don’t give your dog a bad name, pick up after them.”

The message will be promoted through posters, flyers, local newspapers and radio, with the council’s team of community wardens and Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) around Thanet championing the campaign with people they meet. 

Cllr. Shirley Tomlinson is in charge of cleaning up the problem. “Litter is essentially anything that’s dropped by anyone on the streets, no matter how large or small it is, so that includes cigarette butts and chewing gum. A lot of people seem to think that’s not littering, but it is and we won’t tolerate it. This applies to everyone – there’s no exclusions.”

Something else that’s classed as litter is allowing your dog to foul and not picking it up afterwards. Sometimes you find that some people even pick up after their dog, but then leave the bag on the pavement, rather than putting it in a bin, which defeats the whole idea of cleaning up after your dog. Not only is dog poo in our parks, streets and beaches unpleasant, but it’s also a health hazard and the council’s team of cleaners are left to pick up the mess that irresponsible dog owners have left, which gives dogs a bad name.

Just like dropping litter, cigarette butts and chewing gum, if you’re seen allowing your dog to foul and not picking up after it, then you’re breaking the law and you’ll be handed a Fixed Penalty Notice fine of up to £80.  That’s a lot of money to pay just for failing to use a bin, when there are actually hundreds all over Thanet.

We give fines of up to £80 to people who drop litter or let their dogs foul in Thanet.

Let's work together to keep Thanet beautiful. 

To report fly tipping, dumped rubbish and dog fouling

call 01843 577777.