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
- Council resolution on climate change resilience15 Sept 2026Cornwall CouncilOutcome: Resolved
Cornwall Council has agreed to acknowledge how climate change is affecting the area and to take action to help the region adapt, become more resilient, and be better prepared for climate-related emergencies.
- Development of crustacean permit withdrawal/suspension/refusal policy11 Sept 2026Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation AuthorityOutcome: Resolved
The council agreed to create a policy for taking away, pausing, or denying permits to people who repeatedly break the rules in the crustacean fishery.
- Clean Air for Cornwall Strategy review and consultation10 Sept 2026Community Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny CommitteeOutcome: Resolved
The council will ask the public for their views on a new plan to improve air quality, focusing on fine dust, indoor air, and farm emissions.
- Approval of freehold land swap between Cornwall Council and Duchy of Cornwall for Newquay HWRC2 Sept 2026Individual Decision DayOutcome: Not recorded
Cornwall Council agreed to swap its old waste site in Newquay for land to build a new, bigger recycling centre.
- 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.
In the press
Recent Cornwall environment & waste coverage
- Cornwall residents urged to join the fight against fly-tippingCornwall Council12 Oct 2026
Cornwall Council is urging residents to help tackle fly-tipping across the county.
- Food waste trucks set to investigate Cornwall's mobile phone signal strengthCornwall Council9 Oct 2026
Trucks collecting food waste in Cornwall will be used to investigate mobile phone signal strength.
- Covert camera catches van fly-tipping twice in three monthsCornwall Council8 Oct 2026
A covert camera caught a van fly-tipping on two separate occasions within three months.
- More Cornish residents than ever make clean energy home upgrades as council continues to cut its emissionsCornwall Council5 Oct 2026
Record numbers of Cornish residents are making clean energy home upgrades as Cornwall Council continues cutting its own emissions.
- Save the date for Forest for Cornwall free tree giveawaysCornwall Council28 Sept 2026
Cornwall Council is announcing dates for free tree giveaways as part of its Forest for Cornwall initiative.
- Study finds 50% of rubbish from Cornwall homes could have been recycledCornwall Council14 Sept 2026
A Cornwall Council study found that 50% of household rubbish in Cornwall could have been recycled.
- 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.
- 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.
In the daily briefs
Items from recent daily briefs touching environment & waste
- Food waste trucks set to investigate Cornwall's mobile phone signal strength
Cornwall Council · 9 Oct 2026
- More Cornish residents than ever make clean energy home upgrades as council continues to cut its emissions
Cornwall Council · 5 Oct 2026
- “Is council trying to kill off our unspoilt beach?" - Voice (Cornwall)
Google News Cornwall · Council · 2 Oct 2026
- Save the date for Forest for Cornwall free tree giveaways
Cornwall Council · 28 Sept 2026
- Statue of RNLI lifeguard will be in wrong town, says St Ives council - Cornwall Live
cornwalllive.com · Council · 25 Sept 2026
- Angry residents unite against massive 55m geothermal plant near Truro - Cornwall Live
cornwalllive.com · 18 Sept 2026
- Cornwall Council considers banning disposable barbecues on beaches - falmouthpacket.co.uk
Google News Cornwall · Council · 10 Sept 2026
- 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