With bags of rubbish and waste left in the streets, Launceston’s residents are becoming increasingly concerned about the town’s waste collection situation.

Following the introduction of a new waste collection scheme, Launceston’s streets have become littered with black bags, filled to the brim with food, nappies and all other manner of waste.

Back in November 2024, Cornwall Council rolled out its shiny-new bin collection scheme. The new approach would see residents provided with a wheelie bin or reusable sack, an outdoor collection caddy for food waste and an indoor kitchen caddy.

Along with new rubbish containers, the way residents are expected to dispose of their waste was also changed. A new 180 litre fortnightly limit was placed on rubbish – this equates to around three or four black bags; residents were now also expected to separate their food waste for weekly collections.

Following the change, the council told residents: “Please do not put rubbish loose into your bin or sack; it must be contained within a bag.

“We'll only collect the rubbish that fits in your bin or sack with the lid fully closed.

“We won’t take extra rubbish left out for collection next to your bin or sack.”

However, with some struggling with the new system, Launceston has become covered in uncollected bags.

Walking through the town’s centre (Exeter Street, Southgate Street, Broad Street, and High Street) this week we counted 100 bags left on the street uncollected.

Many of these bags have been decorated with a small white tag which has become synonymous with bin day.

The tag, which is attached to these bags reads: “We now collect rubbish fortnightly and only take what fits into the wheelie bin/sack that we’ve given you, with the lid closed.”

With bags littering the streets, some residents are becoming concerned at the situation.

One resident said: “What’s the point of paying council tax when they don’t empty the bins and let rubbish go all over the place.”

Another added: “It's a joke, but then the whole council are one big joke. Not fit for purpose.”

However, it is not only residents who are concerned at the state of the town. Launceston’s mayor, Cllr Helen Bailey told the Post: “I have myself contacted Cornwall Council and reported the amount of bin bags still sitting around the town for over a week.

“This is not acceptable and they need to be proactive in dealing with the matter, not just putting notes on bags or refusing to collect. They need to address why this is happening.

“There is obviously something not working correctly and there will be teething problems, but when someone is visiting the town and asks if there is a bin strike that is how bad it looked last Saturday and it is still the same if not worse as more is building up.”

Following Cllr Bailey’s intervention, Cornwall Council workers removed 3.5 tonnes of waste from the town’s streets.

Cornwall Council has been approached for comment.