Helston residents could be given a limit to number of times they can visit the dump

Households could face new restrictions on the number of times they can visit the dump under new plans being considered by Cornwall Council.

The council has been reviewing its Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) and one of the proposals would limit the number of visits people can make.

Under the proposals, vehicles would only be able to visit the centres for 26 times a year which would mean that single-car households would only be able to go once a fortnight.

The council is also aiming to reduce the amount of black bag waste which is taken to the HWRCs.

To do this a public awareness campaign is planned to ensure people know what can be recycled to avoid items being dumped.

It also suggests that HWRC staff could help people to sort their black bag waste to ensure that everything that can be recycled goes to the correct place.

In addition, the council is looking to introduce rigid plastics recycling and facilities for the reuse of suitable materials at all sites.

Cashless payments are also recommended for all sites and there are plans for a trial of extended opening hours in the summer.

All of the recommendations are due to go before the council's Cabinet next week and were drawn up following an inquiry which looked at the future operation of the HWRCs.

A report to Cabinet states: "The Inquiry panel and Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee have made nine recommendations for changes and improvements to Cornwall's HWRCs.

"These recommendations work together to provide measures to improve the services provided at HWRC sites, help to increase recycling targets and reduce waste, and target the illegal depositing of commercial waste on sites."

The council is set to roll out a new kerbside waste collection service from next summer which will change the current collections.

A new food waste collection service will operate weekly but recycling and black bag waste will be collected fortnightly and there will be limits on how much black bag waste can be left out.

The inquiry panel considered this and decided that as a result there should be no limit on how much black bag waste can be taken to the HWRCs.

But there will be moves to try and ensure that as much waste as possible is being recycled and not disposed of in black bags.

On the recommendation to limit vehicle trips to the HWRCs the report states: "This would help to ensure that visitor numbers do not increase beyond site capacity. Residents will still retain a good level of access to the sites and be able to dispose of an unlimited amount of household waste and recycling.

"Each car will automatically have 26 visits that can be used by the owner whenever they choose throughout a 12-month period. Vans and other vehicles currently requiring a permit would retain a 12-visit limit throughout a 12-month period."

However the new proposals have been criticised by Conservative councillors who claim they could lead to more fly-tipping.

Newquay councillor Olly Monk said: "With the already unpopular and widely condemned removal of community recycling bins across our county as well as the changing of general waste collections to fortnightly, the proposals in the Waste Inquiry up for recommendation at to limit vehicular access to 26 visits per year Household Waste and Recycling Centres are just wrong.

"Firstly with the reduction in services mentioned we have already been told that many people will be left with no option but to visit the tip more often in order to regularly dispose of their waste.

"There is also much concern that restricting access in this way will lead to yet more fly-tipping.

"Finally these proposals seem to discriminate against lower-income households that may often only have one car per family. It is simply not fair to allow wealthier people with more means at their disposal to access these public facilities that we all pay for, more often than people who only have one car."

The Cabinet will consider the report and recommendations when it meets on Wednesday (Sept16).

Don't forget, you can carry on the conversation with us on our Twitter and Facebook page.