South-east Cornwall gets new recycling and waste service

Residents received new food waste caddies and rubbish bins in preparation for the service change

A new food waste, recycling and rubbish service for residents in south-east Cornwall is starting.

Cornwall Council is introducing weekly food waste collections and switching to fortnightly rubbish collections across Cornwall area-by-area. 

The second phase covers Liskeard,  Polruan, Polperro, Looe, Torpoint, Saltash, Callington, Pensilva and surrounding areas. 

Councillor Carol Mould said it would contribute to a "sustainable Cornwall".

Residents have received new food waste caddies and rubbish bins in preparation for the service change, Cornwall Council said.

The service aimed at reducing waste, increasing recycling and contributing to a sustainable environment, has already been rolled out in mid Cornwall.

'Thriving, sustainable Cornwall'

Ms Mould said: "Our new food waste, recycling and rubbish service will help residents in south-east Cornwall to increase their recycling and cut down on waste as well as recycle their food waste for the first time. 

"All this helps to lower our carbon footprint and lessen our impact on the planet contributing to a thriving, sustainable Cornwall. 

"In the first two months of the roll-out [in mid Cornwall] we collected 800 tonnes of food waste and the proportion of recycling we are picking up in the area has gone up from 40% of all waste collected to 55%." 

Cornwall Council said residents in the third roll-out area of west Cornwall would receive new bins in May ahead of their collection change in July.