Rules to stop donkeys trashing bins set to stay

Guidelines aimed at stopping livestock repeatedly breaking in to new wheelie bins and food caddies in a national park are set to remain in place.

Free-roaming ponies and donkeys in the New Forest, Hampshire, were seen scattering waste following the roll out of wheelie bins and caddies earlier this year, prompting a warning about the spread of serious animal diseases.

The Commoners Defence Association (CDA) which represents livestock owners, had said there was a "real risk" of diseases such as African swine fever and foot and mouth spreading from contaminated food waste.

New Forest District Council said temporary arrangements allowing certain properties to leave food waste caddies behind gates would now continue.

Wheelie bins and food waste caddies are being phased in by the council as part of its plan to end the use of plastic sacks to collect waste and recyclables and increase recycling rates.

In June, the council said it was aware of cases of donkeys in the national park "interacting with waste containers".

Residents in the village of Brockenhurst also posted images of donkeys knocking over bins on collection days.

The national park's free-roaming ponies, pigs, donkeys and cattle are owned by commoners - people who own or occupy land with ancient rights attached.

The scenes prompted warnings from CDA chairman Andrew Parry-Norton that pigs are turned out into the forest to feed on fallen acorns during the pannage season could spread diseases like African swine fever and foot and mouth disease.

The 2001 foot and mouth outbreak is thought to have originated from pigs being fed catering waste containing the virus.

As a result, affected properties were told to keep their outdoor food waste recycling caddy behind their property gate or fence for collection during the pannage season.

At a council meeting on Monday, the council said they should continue to do so after pannage ends on 4 January, with extra crews and vehicles allocated to allow for the time required to collect food waste caddies from behind gates.

Geoffrey Blunden, portfolio holder for environment said: "Continuing to collect food waste caddies from behind identified property gates in areas where livestock roam is an important part of making the new service work for all our communities.

"I'd like to thank our partners for helping shape this approach, and we'll keep working together to review wider collection methods where needed."

The council also announced the final phase of the roll-out of wheelie bins would begin in March, with collections due to start in May.

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