A Camborne councillor has taken matters into his own hands to tackle the town’s litter problem. 

Paul White, the Cornwall councillor for Camborne Trelowarren, carries out a litter pick every Friday morning along the town’s streets, roads and back lanes. 

He believes residents have a part to play to help keep the Camborne clean and tidy by not putting their rubbish out days before the collection date. Rubbish becomes strewn across the streets by seagulls, cats, vermin and other scavenging animals. 

Residents face being issued with a fixed penalty notice by Cornwall Council if they carry on leaving their rubbish out too early.  

A number of residents have already been issued with warning letters and fixed penalty notices for waste related matters. 

Cllr White is now calling on residents and businesses to take pride in their town so that it can look its best. 

He advises residents to purchase a seagull sack to prevent rubbish bags from being ripped apart. 

Cllr White said: “Rubbish is still becoming a major ongoing problem in Camborne with some people putting out their rubbish for days on end.  People need to understand they can’t carry on doing this expecting someone to pick go on doing this and expecting someone to clean it up. 

“We really don’t want to send a fixed penalty notice to anyone so I would highly recommend them purchasing a seagull proof sack and they are on sale at Camborne Library in Basset Road.”

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: “We have the authority to deal with domestic waste which is put out too early or put in the wrong place or spilt onto the streets. Residents are responsible for their own waste until it is collected and make sure that it is adequately protected from attack from seagulls, cats, vermin and other scavenging animals. 

“The domestic refuse collection service in Camborne operates on Friday’s and rubbish should be put out by 7am.  The earliest time that refuse should be placed out for collection is dusk on the Thursday evening. 

“S46 of the Environmental Protection Act enables the council to prescribe, by way of legal notice, how an occupier of domestic premises stores and presents domestic waste for collection, failure to comply may result in an fixed penalty notice.”