Dog poo problem in one of Cardiff's biggest parks

One dog walker said it was disheartening to see that people are still throwing their dog mess on the spot where the overflowing bin used to be

Ava Hicks

16:35, 09 Apr 2026Updated 06:26, 10 Apr 2026

A bin, which was overflowing with dog poo just last week, has been removed from a Cardiff park leaving dogwalkers nowhere to put their mess. Now, people have started piling up bags of dog waste where the bin stood in Hailey Park.

“It’s disheartening,” said Lee Mason, 47, a dog walker with PontK9. Lee walks up to six dogs at a time around Cardiff parks every day and sees bins overflowing with dog mess “every other day”.

“It’s a bit of a lottery as to if any bins are available. Because I’m a dog walker, when I’ve got six dogs at once it’s an absolute nightmare to deposit,” he said. “It’s not a pretty sight, and it’s not a happy smell”. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here

Hailey Park is a popular park with dog walkers but has become busier over the last two weeks due to the Easter break. Still, Lee thinks more bins, or more collections, are needed.

“I think this one was full before the Easter break,” he said. “It doesn’t fill up overnight. More regular emptying and more bins would ease the pressure”.

Lee believes dog owners and walkers are good at picking up waste from their dogs, so it’s a “headache” when they can’t dispose of them properly.

“Everyone picks up, but it feels like you’re damned if you do damned if you don’t. People are saying stop piling it up, but at the same time, as responsible dog owners, at least we are picking it up,” he said.

Now, the bin in Hailey Park has been removed and Lee, along with others he speaks with at the park, can’t understand why.

He said: “Some are saying that they’re being taken away to put new ones in, others are saying they are being taken away altogether, and others are saying that they’re putting more bins in that area, so I’m not sure what the situation is.”

A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “Litter bins in Hailey Park have been reviewed and repositioned to improve access for our collection crews, with no reduction in the number of bins available. The new locations allow year‑round collections without vehicles needing to drive on the grass, helping protect the park.

“With higher visitor numbers visiting the park over the Easter break and the recent good weather, crews have attended the park daily. A seven‑day collection service is now in place to reduce the risk of overflowing bins. Parks remain a priority for our cleansing services, and visitors are reminded to take litter home where possible and recycle as much as possible.”