HOUSEHOLDERS are being urged to be mindful of their rubbish to avoid a ’wave of waste’ hitting local councils.

The District Councils Network (DCN) is warning that extra refuse due to people being stuck at home could well coincide with the waste collection workforce being depleted by self-isolation and illness.

Recycling centres are closed across Cornwall which will add to the kerbside collections.

So residents spring cleaning their houses or gardens while stuck at home are being asked to be mindful of excess waste.

The DCN offers the following advice:

check to see if a registered private operator is still carrying out bulky waste collections

Try and compost any garden waste at home -

Cut down cardboard boxes so they can be put into the appropriate recycling bin – -

Store any excess waste from DIY projects, spring cleans or garden waste at home until it can be disposed of safely and legally .

Cllr Dan Humphreys of the DCN said: ’These are challenging times for everyone in the country right now, and all of our public services are being overstretched as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

’While most of the nation is quite rightly in isolation, and able to work from home, our refuse collectors continue to go out to empty people’s bins and dispose of their waste.

’With millions safely staying at home, many producing more waste than normal, and a risk that our waste collection workforce suffers staff shortages, we have to be careful and prepared to manage a potential wave of waste.’