People have reacted with dismay to the announcement that Cornwall Council is set to remove recycling banks.

The large storage banks for recyclables, commonly found in supermarket car parks, are set to be removed by the council next year.

They had been set to be removed later as part of the council’s new waste and recycling contract but this week it was revealed that the date had been moved forward.

The council says that it is removing the banks because they have been vandalised and misused by people and businesses.

However, when the removal was previously announced it was considered acceptable because the council planned to introduce a new weekly recycling kerbside collection as part of the new contract.

But after failing to find an operator which could take on the contract within the council’s budget recycling will continue to be collected fortnightly, along with black bag waste.

Conservative group leader at Cornwall Council, Linda Taylor, said this week that she thought the removal of the recycling banks was a “bad move”.

On Facebook Lisa Marie Bate said: “Why get rid of recycling banks but still keep collection of it fortnightly? People use these because of running out of space/room to recycle at home because collection is fortnightly. That makes no sense to get rid of the banks surely?”

Scott Palmer said: “Trying to promote recycling by getting rid of the recycling banks... Cornwall Council at its finest!”

Kerri A’lee said removing the recycling banks was a “backwards step” and added: “If people’s bags are full and they can’t take excess to a recycling bank it will go to landfill. I’m not driving 14-16 mile round trip just to get rid of excess recycling!”

Fiona Blewett said: “So recycling collections will stay the same as now (two weekly) and they will remove all recycling banks from around the community, (most of which are well used – our local ones are emptied 2-3 times a week as they are full) and they expect this to INCREASE recycling rates?!?? Really??? What planet are they from? It makes no sense.”

Cornwall Council’s Cabinet is due to discuss the new waste contract when it meets on Wednesday (November 13).