RESIDENTS in mid Cornwall are the first to start using a new food waste, recycling and rubbish service from this week.

Cornwall Council is introducing weekly food waste collections and switching to fortnightly rubbish collections across Cornwall area by area over the next two years.

Residents in the first roll-out area of mid Cornwall have received new food waste caddies and rubbish bins or protective sacks in preparation for the service change which has started on January 15.

The area covers Newquay, St Columb, St Austell, the China Clay area, Grampound, Gorran Haven, Mevagissey, Par, St Blazey, Fowey, Lostwithiel, and their surrounding areas.

Mid Cornwall residents are being encouraged to check their collection calendars posted to them or at www.cornwall.gov.uk/myarea to make sure they know which days to put out their food waste, recycling and rubbish.

The key elements of the new waste service in mid Cornwall are weekly food waste collections, fortnightly rubbish collections in a wheelie bin or protective sack, fortnightly recycling collections in the current recycling bags and box, new collection days for most residents and recycling collection week change for some residents.

Over the next two years households across Cornwall will be sent a silver kitchen caddy to make it easy to separate food waste from rubbish, a green outdoor collection caddy for storing and putting out your food waste for collection and a wheelie bin or reusable protective sack to put out rubbish for collection.

Properties with shared bins or communal bin stores will be provided with bins to suit their collection arrangements.

Councillor Carol Mould, Cornwall’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: “Our new food waste, recycling and rubbish service will help residents 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.

“If you live in mid Cornwall, make sure you know how your waste collections are changing from this week. Most people’s collection day is changing but don’t forget to also check which week you should put out your rubbish and food waste and which week you need to put out your recycling and food waste. If you’re not sure, just go to www.cornwall.gov.uk/myarea and put in your postcode.

“You can also find lots of tips on starting to recycle your food waste at www.cornwall.gov.uk/foodrecycling. If you need advice and have a question for our waste team, just head to www.cornwall.gov.uk/wastechanges.”

Residents in the second roll-out area of South East Cornwall will start receiving their new bins later this month ahead of their collection change in April.

Everyone else will remain on the current rubbish and recycling service until they receive information about when the changes start in their area.