Falmouth’s Bin Problem Could Be Solved in Two Car Parks

Walk through Falmouth town centre and the bins are hard to miss. There are more of them than there used to be, and they are taking up space that was never meant to hold them.

Now businesses, local councillors, Falmouth BID, Falmouth Town Council and Truro and Falmouth MP Jayne Kirkham are asking Cornwall Council to back a pilot scheme to deal with it.

Why there are suddenly so many bins

The problem has become more visible since the arrival of Simpler Recycling legislation. The rules require businesses to separate their waste into multiple streams, and that has led to a significant increase in the number of commercial bins being stored in the town centre.

Falmouth’s historic streets were not built with that volume in mind. The bins now sit in public spaces across the town, and the visual impact has been a growing concern.

What was discussed on the site visit

A recent site visit brought together Cornwall Council officers, Cornwall Highways, businesses, councillors, Falmouth BID and Jayne Kirkham. The group looked at the impact on The Moor, Killigrew Street, Church Street and Arwenack Street.

Out of that came a possible solution. The pilot would see businesses consolidate and share bins within designated managed areas in The Moor and Church Street car parks. That would cut the number of bins occupying public spaces and improve the look of the town centre.

There is a catch. Cornwall Council had previously ruled out using car park spaces for commercial waste storage. But the site visit made the scale of the challenge clear, and there was support among those present for a review of that position. Businesses, councillors and stakeholders are now asking the council to reconsider the proposals as pilot schemes.

Businesses say they will pay towards it

The businesses involved have said they are willing to work together, share facilities and contribute financially towards a solution where they can.

Falmouth BID Manager Keren Cooksey said businesses know the waste is their responsibility, and many are already sharing facilities to bring bin numbers down.

“However, the reality is that our historic town centre simply wasn’t designed to accommodate the number of bins now required,” Keren said.

“What has been really encouraging is the willingness from businesses, councillors and community stakeholders to work collaboratively towards a solution. We now have an opportunity to trial a practical approach that could improve the appearance of the town, reduce pressure on public spaces and support local businesses at the same time.”

Jayne Kirkham said the site visit showed businesses wanted to be part of the answer.

“We identified practical options that could significantly improve the current situation and I hope Cornwall Council will give serious consideration to supporting a pilot scheme,” she said.

“Falmouth is one of Cornwall’s most important visitor destinations and town centres. Finding a workable solution that supports businesses, residents and visitors alike is in everyone’s interests.”

Richard Gates, Falmouth Town Manager, said the situation was about balancing modern waste rules with the realities of a historic town centre.

“The businesses involved have approached this constructively and there is a genuine willingness to collaborate,” Richard said. “We have an opportunity to develop a solution that improves the public realm while supporting the vitality of the town centre, and we look forward to continuing discussions with Cornwall Council and local businesses.”

Businesses and stakeholders are now waiting to hear how Cornwall Council responds to the revised proposals.