DOG waste could be put into ordinary litter bins in a move to clear up the streets of Huddersfield.
The suggestion has been made by councillors who have spent weeks trying to come up with a solution.
Now they hope Kirklees Council will approve the scheme and arrange for cleansing staff to start emptying the bins.
The council's Overview and Scrutiny Panel for the Environment has decided that bins specifically for dog waste are not needed.
The panel wants the council to actively promote the use of ordinary bins in strategic areas for this purpose, with area committees deciding where they should be sited.
Last year, 25 fixed penalty notices of £50 to £80 were issued by dog wardens to people caught not clearing up their pets' waste.
Persistent offenders are taken to court, where fines can reach £1,000.
Clr Nigel Patrick, who chaired the panel, said: "The panel carried out a comprehensive study of dog fouling, consulting officers, members of the public and other local authorities.
"The results show that Kirklees Council has to change its enforcement-only policy if it is to address this issue, and the priority must be to encourage dog owners to pick up the dog waste in bags and put it into ordinary litter bins.
"It's no good threatening dog- owners with fines if we do not help them get rid of the dog waste.
"Together with better enforcement and education, these measures will help remove this problem from our streets."
The panel insisted the responsibility for clearing up dog mess lay with the owners.
But councillors acknowledged that although most owners were responsible, effective action needed to be taken against persistent offenders.
The panel recommended the council should look at the possibility of using the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill to take action against irresponsible owners.
The council's dog warden service was praised for its excellent work.
