Cornwall Council is considering introducing new rules which could see people having their rubbish bags inspected before they can throw them away.

The measure is being looked at in a bid to increase the amount of material which is recycled or reused in Cornwall.

Initially the council is looking to launch a campaign to encourage people not to throw away anything which could be reused or recycled.

But if that does not work then it will ask staff at Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) to look inside black bags to check if there is anything which shouldn't be thrown away.

It is just one of several recommendations which have been drawn up by an inquiry held by councillors into the future of HWRCs in Cornwall.

The recommendation on black bag waste, which is set to go before the council's neighbourhoods overview and scrutiny committee tomorrow (Thursday, March 5th), states:

"An educational campaign is implemented across all Household Waste Recycling Centres in Cornwall to raise awareness with all users on the correct separation and disposal of materials for recycling.

"If further public education is required after the campaign, Household Waste

"Recycling Centre staff are instructed to undertake black bag inspections where appropriate.

"If required, capacity be created on-site where practicable to offer users an area for sorting their waste on-site, to ensure each material is disposed in the correct receptacle."

The inquiry has also called for more restrictions to be placed on vehicles using HWRCs.

Under the recommendations, cars on their own or with single axle trailers would be allowed to visit up to 26 times a year, while cars with double axle trailers and all other vehicles would be allowed to go 12 times a year.

Councillors have also said that the council should run a trial of extending the opening hours of HWRCs into the evening in a bid to give people more time to use the services.

The recommendation is that a pilot is undertaken with HWRCs in Cornwall open later for one evening per week for at least two hours from May 1st, 2021, to August 31st, 2021.

The inquiry has also recommended that the council introduce more facilities which would help people to reuse items that they no longer want.

And councillors have called for new facilities to be introduced at HWRCs for people to recycle rigid plastics – at present there are no such facilities in Cornwall.

If the overview and scrutiny committee agrees to the recommendations from the inquiry they will go to the Cabinet for consideration.

The neighbourhoods overview and scrutiny committee will meet tomorrow (5th March).