Residents in Helston could be asked to be less wasteful if the town council becomes part of a new pilot scheme from Cornwall Council.

Councillors voted on Thursday to put the town forward for a place in a waste reduction scheme, which will aim to reduce the amount of rubbish collected in the town, without increasing the amount of recycling.

Councillor Martine Knight said: "We've got this big issue, we keep talking about seagulls, and to step up and say we want to address the waste issue would be a good thing."

It was decided that the council would stand a better chance of being chosen for the pilot scheme if it signalled interest early on.

At last month's council meeting, Cornwall Councillor Judith Haycock had said there would be a financial incentive if the waste reduction target was met, and there would not be a penalty if it was not, although the costs of the scheme did not include the provision of bins.

A document on the scheme produced by Cornwall Council states that the council does not intend "to prescribe to communities how they should reduce the household waste in their particular town or parish, but instead the application process would include a start-up grant for "costs that may be incurred setting up the scheme" and an explanation by the local authority of "what they want to do and by when."

It continues: "Although the council can provide guidance, it would be for the town or parish council to

determine their scheme on what they believe they could make work in their own particular area."