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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Board
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.
- Sewage crisis action plan16 Sept 2025Cornwall CouncilOutcome: Carried
The council told the leader to write to South West Water, get involved in the Local Plan, hold a water summit, and appoint a Water Quality champion to tackle sewage pollution.
- 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.
- Address abandoned boats along Cornwall coastline22 Jul 2025Cornwall CouncilOutcome: RESOLVED
The council will work with partners to stop people from leaving boats on the coast, remove and recycle the ones already there, and push for tougher laws.
- Promote voluntary ban on flying rings22 Jul 2025Cornwall CouncilOutcome: RESOLVED
The council will encourage a voluntary ban on selling and using flying rings, warn about the danger they pose to marine life, and ask that they not be used on council beaches.
In the press
Recent Cornwall environment & waste coverage
- 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.
- Council launches new climate and energy plan to deliver benefits for CornwallCornwall Council20 May 2026
Cornwall Council launches new climate and energy plan aimed at delivering benefits for the county.
- 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.
- War on weeds? Dangerous chemical debate heads for the long grassCornwall Reports15 Apr 2026
Cornwall Council's Liberal Democrat-Independent administration faces controversy over plans to reintroduce dangerous glyphosate weedkiller.
- Have your say on plans to protect Mounts Bay coastline - join online: March 23, 6.30pmCornwall Council11 Mar 2026
Cornwall Council is holding an online consultation on March 23, 6.30pm for public input on plans to protect the Mounts Bay coastline.
- Kernow Reuse Shops save 500 tonnes of pre-loved items from the skipsCornwall Council9 Feb 2026
Kernow Reuse Shops have diverted 500 tonnes of pre-loved items from being thrown away as waste.
- Join Healthy Rivers and Seas Summit online: February 27, 10am - 11.30amCornwall Council6 Feb 2026
Cornwall Council is hosting an online Healthy Rivers and Seas Summit on February 27 from 10am-11:30am.
- Serial fly-tipper receives custodial sentenceCornwall Council21 Jan 2026
Serial fly-tipper received a custodial sentence according to Cornwall Council.
In the daily briefs
Items from recent daily briefs touching environment & waste