Litter clean-up: working together
Litter makes an area look messy and must be handled in different ways. It’s important for the council and local people to work together.
Litter of any type is against the law, including throwing cigarette butts on the floor or leaving rubbish next to bins that are already full. You might get an on-the-spot fine of £100.
Even though most people don’t litter, many still leave things on our streets and beaches, and this can pile up quickly. Working with our residents is important to keep our seaside towns clean and welcoming.
- We provide and empty over 700 litter bins, including more than 40 recycling bins across the district. In the summer, we add extra bins in busy spots and along the walking paths.
- We have a dedicated team of street cleansing staff who work 7 days a week.
- We hire extra street cleansing staff for the busy summer months.
- We do checks every month to monitor standards.
- Areas with lots of people, like town centres, are swept daily, and our sweeping machines are used often in all other areas.
- We deal with reports of more litter in public spaces first and aim to fix these problems as fast as possible.
- We are always looking at ways to make the service we give you better.
- Make sure your waste and recycling is securely contained when you put it out for collection. Don’t leave bags on the ground next to your bin.
- If you smoke, make sure you throw the cigarette ends into a bin.
- When you are out, put your trash in the litter bins provided. If the bins are full, take your rubbish home.
- Join a litter pick-up – find out more on our website.
- Do a 2-minute beach clean whenever you visit one of our beaches or bays, or you can join a planned beach clean-up. There’s more information on Thanet Coast Projects website.
You can read more about our Street Cleansing Standards on our website.
PermalinkHelp us keep Thanet safe and clean this autumn by adopting a leafing bin to recycle your fallen leaves
Following the huge success of our trial last year, the Thanet leafing bin scheme is back. This community initiative turns the annual challenge of fallen leaves into an environmental win, by recycling leaves that would otherwise be treated as street litter.
How it works
The scheme is simple: we provide the bin, you fill it with leaves, and we collect it for composting.
- Request a bin: if you’re keen to take part, email us at leafingbin@thanet.gov.uk to request a dedicated wheeled bin for leaf collection.
- Fill it up: use the bin exclusively for fallen leaves from your area.
- Request a collection: once your bin is full, let us know, and our Waste & Recycling teams will collect it within 48 hours.
The leaves collected are transformed into high-quality compost, diverting valuable organic waste from disposal and supporting the health of our local environment.
There are 100 bins of different sizes available for residents, schools, community gardens and businesses. The scheme is available from Monday 27 October 2025 up until Christmas 2025.
Why it matters
Before we started this scheme in 2024, all fallen leaves were collected with general street litter, meaning they couldn’t be composted.
Our first staff-only leaf picking patrols in 2023 successfully diverted nine tonnes of leaves for composting. Last season, our initial community trial in Broadstairs was met with a fantastic response and huge support from residents. Based on that success, we are now extending the scheme to the whole of Thanet, aiming for even better results with your help.
We’re incredibly grateful for the dedication of Thanet’s strong community of litter pickers. By collecting leaves separately, this scheme reduces the volume of wet, heavy organic material our volunteer groups and cleansing teams encounter, making their valued work easier and more effective.
Exclusive rewards and offers
We want to encourage everyone to understand the environmental benefits of composting, and so have a number of rewards and offers for anyone participating, in collaboration with Wiggly Wigglers, a farm specialising in sustainable and eco-friendly garden products.
Reward |
Details |
Grand prize draw |
All participants are entered into a draw to win a year’s free green waste subscription. Winners will be notified by Wednesday 7 January 2026. |
Wiggly Wigglers discount |
Get 15% off your next Wiggly Wigglers order before Christmas with code THANET15. |
Worm farm prize |
One lucky participant will also win a Wiggly Worm Farm worth £116.95 including delivery, from our partners. Winners will be notified by Wednesday 7 January 2026. |
A Message from Wiggly Wigglers
We’re delighted to be teaming up with Thanet District Council to help turn this year’s leaf fall into something truly valuable. At Wiggly Wigglers, we think leaves are nothing short of amazing — they’re nature’s brown gold and the secret ingredient to great home composting.
When you mix them with your kitchen peelings and leftovers, you can virtually eliminate your food waste and create rich, living soil that will feed your plants, lock in carbon, and bring your garden to life. Instead of binning waste, you’ll be transforming it into something brilliant — natural fertility straight from your doorstep.
If you’re looking for a truly meaningful Christmas gift, why not give a Wormery or Bokashi Kit? You’ll be inspiring someone you love to waste less, grow more, and make 2026 their zero-waste year. Visit Wiggly Wigglers for more information.
Inspiring the next generation
Any participating school can book a free workshop with our Education Officer to teach children about decomposition, soil health, and the importance of recycling leaves. These hands-on sessions will include creating a jam jar wormery to observe nature’s recyclers in action.
Join us in making Thanet cleaner and greener, and make some worms happy this autumn.
Got a question or want to get involved? Email us at: leafingbin@thanet.gov.uk
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