Street cleansing standards 2026

1.2 This policy sets out the standards residents can expect from the Council in meeting this commitment, as well as the responsibilities residents have in helping to maintain their local environment. 

1.3 This policy is in line with the council's corporate plan aims and priorities specifically Green – The surroundings are clean, sustainable and have plenty of green spaces for all to enjoy, and we all contribute towards reducing our carbon footprint. 

 2. Legislation 

2.1 Section 89(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 places a duty on Wokingham Borough Council to ensure that their land (or land for which they are responsible) is, so far as is practicable, kept clear of litter and refuse. 

2.2 Under section 98(5A) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, certain discarded smoking-related materials such as cigarette ends and discarded chewing gum are specifically stated to be items of litter. 

2.3 The code of practice on litter and refuse 2006 issued under section 89(7) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 provides advice on how duty bodies can maintain their land within acceptable cleanliness standards, along with guidance on the effective use of enforcement action against littering and related offences 

2.4 Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 sets out offences relating to the depositing or disposal of waste without a waste management licence (fly tipping) 

2.5 Section 224(3) of the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA) 1990 and the Highways Act 1980, fly posting is an offence under this act. 

2.6 Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 enable local authorities to vary fixed penalty amounts for graffiti and fly tipping offences  

3. Relevant Land & Zones for Cleansing Standards 

3.1 The duty to keep land free of litter applies to Relevant Land as defined by section 86 of the EPA 1990.  and will normally include public highways, public land open to the air and spaces we own, control, or have a statutory duty to maintain such as: 

• Adopted public highways (including laybys, adjoining footways, verges, roundabouts,   central reservations, traffic islands and commercial premises) 
• Town centre and district shopping areas including car parks 
• Housing land including highways, footways, open spaces and associated garages/parking areas.  
• Authority designated car parks 

3.2 For the avoidance of doubt Private land is not council land and would be the responsibility of the landowner to cleanse and maintain 

For clarity: Private land is not Council Land. Cleaning and maintaining private land is the responsibility of the landowner. 

3.3 The code of practice on litter and refuse sets out cleanliness standards and how quickly they should be restored to a good condition should the standard decline. The Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse explains the expected cleanliness standards and how quickly an area must be cleaned if it falls below those standards. 

3.4 Land Zones Designations for street cleansing: 

• High Intensity Areas – Busy public areas such as streets and public spaces with high pedestrian or commercial activity such as town centres. 
• Medium Intensity Areas –Areas with regular daily use, such as residential areas near shops, schools, libraries, and sports facilities. 

• Low Intensity Areas - Quiet residential streets, suburban neighbourhoods, rural roads, and village streets with low activity.3.5 Some areas have special circumstances—for example, places where health and safety concerns make cleaning difficult, such as highspeed roads. In these areas, what is “reasonable and practical” for the Council to do may be different. 

If a street is at an acceptable standard on the scheduled day of cleansing and does not require sweeping the code of practice allows for resources to be redeployed to other areas that do require cleansing. This is to enable a more effective service delivery 

4. Street Sweeping Cleansing Standards 

4.1 The street sweeping cleansing standard in Wokingham is based on the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. There are four grades of cleanliness standards: 

Grade A - The area is clear of all litter and there is no debris on the footpath or in the road gulley. Debris comprises soil, leaves (in small quantities), dead plants and small stones. 

Grade B - There is the occasional piece of litter or a light scattering of debris on the footpath or in the road gulley. Typically, this would be a single piece of litter no larger than a drink can or a crisp packet every metre. 

Grade C - The litter is widespread or there are lots of small piles of debris on the footpath or in the road gulley. This could be individual items of larger litter such as a newspaper or small groups of small litter such as crisp packets or drinks cans in the space of a meter. 

Grade D - There is heavy littering or large piles of debris on the footpath or in the road gulley. 

4.2 The cleansing will be carried out to meet its statutory duty to keep Relevant Land free of litter by using a combination of methods and frequencies to be determined by the Land Use Intensity: 

• Mechanical sweeping 
• Manual hand sweeping 
• Manual litter picking 
• Provision of litter bins 

4.3 During periods of high leaf fall or where a health and safety concern is raised, resource will be reallocated from scheduled work to address these as a priority. 

4.4 During adverse weather conditions, such as freezing temperatures, snowfall and during gritting operations we may not be able to clean the streets and some roads may have to wait until the following scheduled cleanse.  

4.5  

Hours of operation and scheduled work 

7. Adopt a Street 

7.1 Residents can help us keep our neighbourhoods green and litter free by joining our Adopt a Street scheme  

How to help 

• Pick up litter in your area and put in the Adopt a Street bags provided 
• Monitor your neighbourhood and report any problems 
• Give us feedback about the local street cleansing service that we provide 

We will: 

• Provide a litter picker 
• Provide Green Adopt a Street bags 
• Provide high visibility waistcoats for your safety 
• Ensure collected the bags are put out along with your black bin on the scheduled collection day. 

7.2 Under 18’s wishing to join the scheme will need an application completed by an adult and confirmation that litter picks will be supervised by an adult. 

7.3 Only waste from litter picking can be placed in the green bags. The bags can not be used to dispose of waste from your home. 

8. Graffiti & Flyposting 

8.1 Graffiti is criminal damage. It includes anything written, sprayed, or scratched onto a surface. Removing it is expensive and needs special equipment. 

8.2 The Council is responsible for removing offensive graffiti and any posters or notices that have been put up without permission (known as flyposting). We will remove this from public areas where it can be reached from the ground, up to a height of 7 feet, including: 

•  Publicly owned fencing 
•  Public toilets 
•  Benches 
•  Litter bins 
• Bridges 
•  Signs 
•  Play equipment (in council-owned parks) 
•  Underpasses 

8.3 We do not remove graffiti from: 

•  Private properties – where possible, we will inform the private landowner of the graffiti and encourage them to arrange for its removal 

8.4 Graffiti on utility boxes and phone boxes is the responsibility of the company that has placed them there and can be reported using the below links 

How to report payphone faults or damage | BT Business 

Postbox.appearance@royalmailpfs.com 

Uk Power networks Substation issue 

8.5 Report Offensive,  Graffiti here [new url Graffiti] 
Report fly posting here Report fly-posting. We aim to remove within 24 hours of the report being received 

9. Fly Tipping 

9.1 Fly tipping is the illegal dumping of any waste or rubbish anywhere other than at a licensed waste disposal site and is a criminal offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. 

9.2 It is a crime, attracts other rubbish, can pollute our watercourses and land which can be dangerous to wildlife and fish and is expensive to clear. 

9.3 The council can only investigate, and clear fly tipped waste that it is found on council owned or managed land. 

Fines and convictions 

9.2 The maximum fine is £50,000 in a magistrate's court and unlimited in higher courts and up to 5-year imprisonment 

9.3 As a householder, you are responsible to take measures to make sure that your waste is disposed of properly and transferred to an authorized person or company. This is to prevent the illegal dumping of waste. If rubbish can be traced back to your address, you may face penalties such as being issued with a £600 fine for failure of duty or prosecuted  

9.4 As a householder, you must make sure your rubbish is disposed of correctly and handed over to someone who is authorised to take it. This helps prevent illegal dumping. 

9.5 If dumped waste can be traced back to your home, you may face penalties. This could include a £600 fine for failing to meet your duty of care, or you could be prosecuted if your waste is found fly tipped and linked to your address. 

9.6 If you don't comply you could be fined £50,000 on conviction in a magistrate’s court, or face an unlimited fine if convicted in a crown court 

Private land 

All landowners have a responsibility to deter and clear any fly tipping on their land. 

As a householder, if you ask someone to remove waste from your property you are responsible for ensuring that anyone you use is authorised to do so: 

• Have they shown you their Waste Carriers Licence – If they haven’t, don’t use them. 
• Have they provided you with full address and postcode? 
• Where will the waste be taken – it needs to be a licensed site 

If you see dumped waste, please report it here Fly-tipping 

Supporting Documents