All things “rubbish” in Cornwall

All things “rubbish” (and recycling) in Cornwall, where all but Household and Recycling Centres (HWRC) are getting back to usual arrangements.

So, unlike many Councils, through the lock-down, we in Cornwall have had our usual waste and recycling doorstep collections with those signed up for green waste collections are still getting them; and now people are able to become new subscribers.

Bulky waste and garden waste

Cornwall Council have now restarted the bulky waste collection service for items that are too big to be included in normal household waste collection. Bulky waste is split into three categories: standard items, small special items and large special items. As a general guide, any item you would normally take with you during a house move is usually classed as a standard item, with bigger and heavier items classified as ‘special items’.

The cost depends on the category of item you’d like to have collected, beginning at £26 for 4 standard sized items. For more information, visit this link.

Cornwall Council also offers a fortnightly domestic garden waste collection service for things such as grass clippings, weeds, leaves and prunings. First time subscribers will need to buy a brown bin or reusable bags as explained on the Council website. It takes about 10 working days for the contractor to set up your collection round, once you have paid your subscription, and about 5 to 10 working days for a bin/bag to be delivered once you have ordered one. Link for garden waste collections

Alternatively, (and better if you have the space) you can compost your garden waste by buying a Cornwall Council subsidised composter or Green Johanna compost bin. Follow the link, put in your postcode and the details of what is on offer will pop up.

So, with all this available, hopefully you will not be missing the HWRC’s too much but if you are, news is below…..

HWRC Re-opening  Plans

In terms of HWRCs, government guidance has now clearly stated that only essential trips should be made, defined as circumstances where the waste cannot be stored without causing risk of injury, health or harm. Those with a permit for a trailer, can go there with it.

In nearly all cases the Council can service this essential need through existing kerbside collection services, with increased capacity where needed. You will be hearing that elsewhere in the country there has been a surge in demand once the HWRC service re-opens, which needs careful consideration and management. So, the announcement of the re-opening of Cornwall’s HWRC comes with conditions and frequent reviews of safety.

Most of Cornwall’s Household Waste and Recycling Centres re-opened on Tuesday, 19 May and the remainder will follow by 6 June. However, for safety reasons there will be restrictions on how and when residents access the sites and the types of waste they can bring.

To help alleviate some pressure Cornwall Council will be operating traffic management systems and restricting when people can visit an HWRC using a vehicle number plate system:

If the last digit of your number plate is ODD – 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 – then you may only visit an HWRC on an ODD date of the month, e.g. 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, or 29 May etc. For example, if your license plate number is WL57 ABO, then the last digit is 7 – an odd number – so you may only visit an HWRC on an odd date of the month, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29 May etc.

If the last digit of your vehicle number plate is an EVEN number –  0, 2, 4, 6 or 8 – then you may only visit an HWRC on an EVEN date of the month, e.g. 20, 22, 24, 26 May etc. For example, if your number plate is B398 EWP, the last digit is 8 – an even number – so you can only visit on an even date of the month. Even numbers include the number 0 (zero).

Before loading up your car and setting off to your local Household Waste and Recycling Centre, ensure you visit the Cornwall Council website and read the detailed arrangements for the facility you HOPE to visit. Cornwall’s HWRC COVID-19 Arrangements