Cornwall Council is launching a crackdown on businesses which use residential rubbish collection services to get rid of their waste.

There have long been concerns about the number of businesses – particularly holiday let owners – which avoid paying costs for commercial waste services by just leaving out rubbish and recycling at the kerbside.

It has now been revealed that the cost to taxpayers for businesses using council services could be as high as £1million.

Many councillors and residents have highlighted the issue and called for Cornwall Council to try and stop businesses from taking advantage of the residential waste services.

Now, with a new waste service contract set to be signed this week, the council is set to remind businesses that they have to pay for commercial waste services to dispose of rubbish and recycling.

The new contract that Cornwall Council is starting brings commercial waste services under the council which will enable it to monitor the situation more closely.

Rob Nolan, Cornwall Council Cabinet member responsible for waste, spoke about the new clampdown at a meeting of Truro City Council last night.

Cllr Nolan said that the council was looking at AirBnB owners who run their lets as a business.

Holiday lets which operate as a business and pay business rates have to use commercial waste services.

Cllr Nolan said:

"We have sent 14,000 letters reminding them (businesses) that they need a commercial waste agreement.

"It irritates people generally that they are getting their waste collected for free. It costs the council at least £1million, probably more."

The new waste contract will also result in changes to kerbside collections of rubbish and recycling.

Black bag waste and recycling will both be collected fortnightly while there will also be a new weekly food waste collection service.

The changes to collections are not set to be introduced until later in 2021.

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