Dog walkers can throw their poop bags away with other rubbish rather than having to wait to find a poo bin as Elbridge moves away from keeping it separate to general litter.

This comes after a successful trial of scrapping the dog poo bins at Esher Common.

Countryside officers at Elmbridge Council are now recommending that mixed use bins are used across all their estates.

The six-month trial in 2018 was rolled out at the car parks of Horseshoe Clump and Copsem Lane where signs were put up telling walkers that the different types of bins in the area could be used for all waste.

No adverse comments were received by users of the common.

In a report by the council’s Countryside Consultative Group to go before councillors at the overview and scrutiny committee on Thursday, January 17, officers say dog walkers can now even throw away the poo bags in their own black bins at home.

It says: “In recent years, national guidance on the disposal of dog waste has changed and it is no longer necessary to separate dog waste from other types of household waste.

“Therefore dedicated dog waste bins are no longer required and waste can be disposed of in any available litter bin or your black household bin.”

Officers say mixed waste bins should now be used across the Countryside Estate replacing bins when they become damaged or not fit for

purpose.

It is illegal for dog owners to not clean up their dog’s waste in a public area. Although there are exemptions for some kinds of public land including woodlands, agricultural land, rural common land, moors and highways with a speed limit of 50mph or more.

Local authorities do have powers to make it an offence if dog owners don’t clean up the after their dogs and issue fines of up to £1,000.

Registered blind dog owners cannot be fined.