Cornwall residents frustrated by rubbish collection system

Some people in Cornwall are frustrated that a new rubbish collection system is not picking up bin bags that have the wrong colored handles.

Residents were told it was happening because they were using older seagull-resistant bags with black handles rather than newer bags with white handles.

Critics accused Cornwall Council of wasting money and also said they were annoyed that the older bags they used would have to go into the white handle bags as they could not be recycled.

Cornwall Council said the new litter collection service aims to reduce waste and increase recycling, and old bags could be collected by it afterwards.

One critic, resident Gary Miller, said: “Unfortunately I’m in a position where I can’t have one of the (new) large wheelie bins as I have no rear access to my property and no pavements outside They.

“My only option would be to leave the bin in the carriageway, exacerbating the limited parking problem we already have on this street and, to be honest, making the area look very untidy.

“As a taxpayer and resident of Cornwall Council, I find this to be far from satisfactory.”

Cornwall Council said the new recycling and rubbish collection service is aimed at encouraging everyone to reduce their waste and increase their recycling.

It said: “All rubbish must fit into the new bin or bag (with a white handle) which our crews can monitor to ensure residents do not exceed the amount of rubbish they can dispose of.

“As part of our new waste collection service for Cornwall, we are asking residents, for the first time, to limit the amount of rubbish they can throw away to what can fit in their bin or dustbag every two weeks”.

He added: “We encourage anyone who has an existing bag to reuse it, or alternatively we can collect residents’ old bags once their new rubbish collection starts if they reserve it once the service opens in their area.”