Petplan is helping local communities reduce dog fouling.
The insurance company has signed a deal with international waste specialists TiksPac and several local authorities to support the installation of 100 dog waste bag dispenser stations across the south east of England.
Petplan’s head of marketing, Isabella Von Mesterhazy, said: “We’re really happy to be sponsoring these stations as they encourage responsible pet ownership by getting more people to take responsibility for cleaning up after their pets and they are good for the local community and environment, too.”
The stations, featuring Petplan branding, provide dog owners who have forgotten to carry poo bags with access to free bags to encourage them to clean up after their pets. The bags are 100% compostable and biodegradable.
Petplan is funding the stations, which have been installed at local authority sites in Didcot, Surrey Heath and areas of West Berkshire.
TiksPac, originated in Sweden where the initiative has been a huge success. The company is already working with 30 UK councils.
PERRENIAL PROBLEM
Lynsey Alderson, of TiksPac, said: “By sponsoring these stations Petplan is helping to reduce dog fouling, which is a perennial problem for many local authorities. A survey of the councils we’re working with has shown that where TiksPac stations are installed there’s an average decrease in dog fouling complaints of 49.4% and a 56.8% decrease in overall littering in the same areas.
“Numerous studies show that people are more likely to drop litter in areas where there are already high volumes of rubbish, including dog waste. Conversely, where litter levels are low, people are more likely to dispose of all types of waste responsibly.
“The TiksPac approach is designed to save local authorities time and money as volumes of dog waste and litter decrease. But, most importantly, we see this as the first step towards creating a safer, cleaner community.”
The idea for TiksPac came about when its founder was walking his dog and was shocked to discover how many people were not picking up after their dogs, creating a negative impression of his town. His solution: the TiksPac concept, encompassing TiksPac stations, TiksPac dog waste bags and TiksCan for disposing of bags.
