Leftover bins causing confusion in touristy towns

The new system means green bins have been exchanged for black ones

A new waste collection system in Cornwall has sparked an "abandoned bin" problem in some areas of the county, communities say.

The new system - including food waste caddies - was introduced by the council last year.

In St Ives and Carbis Bay, residents say the the replacement of old green wheelie bins with new black ones has not gone smoothly - leading to a surplus of green bins which are still being used in error, often by visitors.

Cornwall Council said it was prioritising collections of abandoned bins in known "hot-spot" areas - especially where they were causing obstructions.

Carol Doyle says people on holiday are not aware of the new waste collection system

It said that, to date, 1,200 abandoned bins had been reported and collected from Mousehole, St Ives and part of Penzance.

The new system means food waste is now collected weekly, while black bag waste and recycling are taken away on a fortnightly rotation, with homes in Mid Cornwall, South East Cornwall and West Cornwall already using the new service.

Residents have said some tourists have been unsure of how to dispose of their waste.

Carbis Bay resident Carol Doyle said of the council: "Whether they're full or empty, they need to get rid of the green bins.

"People on holiday, they don't know there's a new system.

"They see a green bin, fill it up... off they go, they've finished their holiday, it stays in the bin."

Residents says the resulting mess has led to an 'increasing rat problem'

Tony Carver, who runs the St Ives Times and Echo Newspaper and lives in Carbis Bay, said while householders "understand" they do not use the green bins, "visitors don't".

"We frequently see people wandering round our alley looking for bins to put it in and, if the green bins are there, that's where they put it," he said.

He said bin men then "don't want to take them away" - with sacks of rubbish left behind to be "torn apart" by seagulls, also causing "an increasing rat problem".

"We've raised the issue - readers were coming to us... Since then, we're getting a bit of action and they've promised to remove the green bins from our area."

Mr Carver said the onus was on the council to remove green bins, adding: "It's as simple as that, really."

Colin Nichols, owner of a hardware store in St Ives, said there should be more pick-ups during the tourist season, adding: "Double visitors equals double pick-ups needed".

Abandoned bins can be reported on the council website.