Cornwall Council environment and waste
Climate action, waste, recycling, parks, green spaces and environmental policy.
Decisions, press coverage and daily-brief activity on environment and waste in Cornwall, drawn together in one place.
Council decisions
Formal decisions classified as environment & waste
- Forest for Cornwall woodland creation programme funding acceptance29 Jul 2026CabinetOutcome: Resolved
Cornwall Council has accepted £8.76m from the government to create 2,000 hectares of new woodland by 2030.
- Vote of No Confidence in South West Water Limited21 Jul 2026Cornwall CouncilOutcome: Resolved
The council has voted no confidence in South West Water, calling for the Leader to ask the government and regulators about moving water services to public ownership and to set up a public online dashboard showing water performance.
- Adoption of Mounts Bay Coastal Resilience Strategy8 Jul 2026Individual Decision DayOutcome: Not recorded
The council agreed to adopt a plan, created with the Environment Agency, to protect the Mounts Bay area from flooding and coastal erosion for the next 80 years using ideas from local people.
- Tamar Valley National Landscape Management Plan adoption17 Jun 2026CabinetOutcome: Resolved
The council approved a five-year plan to manage the Tamar Valley National Landscape.
- Delegation of authority for Tamar Valley Management Plan revisions17 Jun 2026CabinetOutcome: Resolved
The council's top environment official is now allowed to approve updates to the Tamar Valley Management Plan after government planning rules change.
- IFCA Officers' Report noted12 Jun 2026Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation AuthorityOutcome: Resolved
The Cornwall IFCA officers' report on enforcement, vessel funding, and operations was noted by members.
- Approval of draft Work Programme and establishment of Waste Collection Service Options Task and Finish Group4 Jun 2026Community Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny CommitteeOutcome: Resolved
The council approved its yearly plan and set up a temporary group to look at options for how waste is collected.
- Glyphosate Weed Treatment - Pause and Review Motion21 Apr 2026Cornwall CouncilOutcome: Not recorded
The council is asking the Cabinet to pause the planned May 2026 use of the herbicide glyphosate for weed control until a public consultation is held, to give parish councils more time to opt out, and to review the cost of the opt‑out scheme.
- Appoint contractors for unserviceable vessels and wrecks19 Mar 2026Cornwall Harbours BoardOutcome: Agreed
The council will use reserve funds to hire licensed contractors to dismantle and remove unserviceable boats and wrecks, and will continue monitoring vessels that are at risk.
- Review and fund Pacific Oyster Project19 Mar 2026Cornwall Harbours BoardOutcome: Agreed
The council will review the Pacific Oyster Project’s progress and fund its next phase using money from the Port of Truro budget.
- Climate and Energy Action Plan and Nature Recovery Action Plan13 Feb 2026CabinetOutcome: Resolved
The council approved the Climate and Energy Action Plan and the Nature Recovery Action Plan, adding them as appendices to the Council Priorities Plan report.
- Cornwall's Good Food Cycle endorsement and integration16 Jan 2026Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Leadership BoardOutcome: Not recorded
The council approved the Good Food Cycle as Cornwall’s new food strategy and will incorporate its ideas into upcoming work such as the Cornwall Local Plan.
- Recommend PSPO for seasonal dog restrictions on beaches15 Jan 2026Community Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny CommitteeOutcome: Resolved
The council will recommend a new order that limits when dogs can be on certain beaches, with seasonal dates and times for Blue Flag, Seaside Award and other sites.
- Adopt Marine Nature Recovery Framework17 Dec 2025CabinetOutcome: Resolved
The council agreed to adopt the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Marine Nature Recovery Framework and to have the Cabinet acknowledge its leadership in marine nature recovery.
- Refresh and promote Duchy-wide litter strategy16 Sept 2025Cornwall CouncilOutcome: Carried
The council will keep working with Clean Cornwall and volunteers to update and publicise a new litter‑reduction plan for the whole area.
In the press
Recent Cornwall environment & waste coverage
- Forest for Cornwall celebrates two million trees milestone and government funding boostCornwall Council6 Aug 2026
Forest for Cornwall has planted two million trees and received additional government funding.
- Food waste trucks set to investigate Cornwall's mobile phone signal strengthCornwall Council31 Jul 2026
Trucks collecting food waste in Cornwall will be used to investigate mobile phone signal strength.
- Council launches new plan to deliver nature recoveryCornwall Council31 Jul 2026
Cornwall Council has launched a new plan to deliver nature recovery.
- Council launches new climate and energy plan to deliver benefits for CornwallCornwall Council21 Jul 2026
Cornwall Council launches new climate and energy plan aimed at delivering benefits for the county.
- Threats and violence will not be tolerated at Cornwall’s Household Waste and Recycling CentreCornwall Council29 Jun 2026
Cornwall Council has warned that threats and violence against staff at Household Waste and Recycling Centres will not be tolerated.
- 10 beaches across Cornwall awarded Blue Flag status for 2026Cornwall Council8 Jun 2026
Ten beaches across Cornwall have been awarded Blue Flag status for 2026, recognising their quality standards.
- Join our litter heroes for the Great British Spring CleanCornwall Council28 May 2026
Cornwall Council is recruiting volunteers to participate in the Great British Spring Clean litter-picking campaign.
- Public realm weed treatment plans debated at full meeting of Cornwall CouncilCornwall Council21 Apr 2026
Cornwall Council debated public realm weed treatment plans at a full council meeting.
- LONG READ: Anger at council’s decision to use chemical weedkiller - Cornish timesGoogle News Cornwall21 Apr 2026
Cornwall Council's decision to use chemical weedkiller has caused anger.
- Have your say on proposal to ban open fires on Falmouth’s beachesCornwall Council15 Apr 2026
Cornwall Council is seeking public feedback on a proposal to ban open fires on Falmouth's beaches.
In the daily briefs
Items from recent daily briefs touching environment & waste
- Forest for Cornwall celebrates two million trees milestone and government funding boost
Cornwall Council · 6 Aug 2026
- Food waste trucks set to investigate Cornwall's mobile phone signal strength
Cornwall Council · 31 Jul 2026
- Council launches new plan to deliver nature recovery
Cornwall Council · 31 Jul 2026
- Empty beach huts that cost council £125k removed
BBC Cornwall · Council · 24 Jul 2026
- Empty beach huts that cost council £125k removed - BBC
Google News Cornwall · Council · 24 Jul 2026
- Cornwall Council removes £125,000 beach huts which have never been used - Cornwall Live
cornwalllive.com · 23 Jul 2026
- Van dwellers told to leave beach car park
BBC Cornwall · Council · 17 Jul 2026
- Perranporth beach dog rules return for July and August
CornishStuff · Council · 4 Jul 2026
- Tree in memory of children stolen from park
BBC Cornwall · Council · 4 Jul 2026
- Councillor accused of 'belittling' local lady in video blasts 'witch hunt' - Cornwall Live
cornwalllive.com · Council · 27 Jun 2026