Cornwall Council is asking residents to sort their stuff before they visit the Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs) and make sure they recycle as much as possible.
People are being asked to get things Sorted! and separate their unwanted items into different materials, such as wood, metals, batteries, green waste, and electricals, before setting off to their local recycling centre.
Whether you’re upgrading your pots and pans, having a clear out or just tidying up the garden, sorting your items before you leave home makes it easier to put the correct materials in the right skips – and that means more can be recycled.
On average about a quarter of items put in the rubbish skips at Cornwall’s HWRCs are recyclable. Many of those have been disposed of in black bags.
Councillor Carol Mould, portfolio holder for Neighbourhoods at Cornwall Council, said: “This campaign is all about getting people to recycle more and do their bit to help protect the planet.
“Instead of throwing everything in a black bag and putting it in general waste, we’re asking people to sort their items before they leave home and put them in the right skip or container. This means we can recycle more.
“But you may find that you don’t need to take a trip in the first place. If your items could be of use to someone else, especially furniture of good-quality clothes donate them to charity.”
The council is also reminding businesses to make sure they dispose of their rubbish legally.
Cllr Mould added: “The HWRCs, which are paid for by council taxpayers, are for household waste and recycling only.
“We know that some of black bags disposed of at the HWRCs are from people misusing the sites for commercial waste.
“Anyone running a business, including self-catering accommodation or those providing services such as gardening or maintenance, have a responsibility to dispose of their waste legally. They are not permitted to use the HWRCs.
“ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras installed at the HWRCs are being used to monitor people’s usage and those who are found to be illegally disposing of commercial waste will be banned from all sites.”
The council provides a fortnightly household recycling collection service. Items collected include glass, textiles, metal cans and tins, plastic bottles, tubs and trays, cardboard and paper. You can see what goes in each bag and box and what can be taken to each HWRC using the council’s handy A-Z Recycling guide.
Cornwall Council offers a commercial waste collection service for properties used for self-catering accommodation. The service is delivered by Biffa Municipal Ltd on behalf of Cornwall Council. To find out more see the Cornwall Council website.
Press release issued on January 18, 2023
