A PADSTOW father was left furious after bin men threw his holdall containing £350 worth of sailing gear into the back of their refuse lorry – and refused to compensate him.
Ben Phillips, 35, has described the decision not to reimburse him by refuse company Cory Environmental as "absolutely shocking".
He told the Cornish Guardian that staff on a refuse lorry, on its usual weekly rounds, picked up the bag outside his Percy Mews home, and threw it into the back of the lorry.
Refuse workers are only supposed to pick up black bin bags – and Mr Phillips has been angered that a worker for the private firm saw fit to pick up his holdall, containing his Quicksilver wetsuit and boots, and dump it in the garbage-munching lorry.
"I live in a cul-de-sac and was having my car valeted at the time," explained the father of one.
"The car was clearly being worked on as the car doors were open and there were items on the pavement, including my holdall which had been taken out of the car so it could be vacuumed.
"The lorry came down the street and witnesses saw it picked up and taken away."
The incident happened in April and Mr Phillips has been fighting with Cory for compensation ever since.
He received a letter two weeks ago from the company stating that it had investigated the incident and had "not received/found sufficient evidence for us to be able to accept liability for the damage/loss to your vehicle/property".
Mr Phillips said: "Someone has to be held responsible. I have spoken to Cornwall Council but they have washed their hands of it completely and blamed Cory. I pay a lot of money for my council tax and this is the service I get.
"The holdall was placed on the pavement but was nowhere near the bin – it was clearly not to go out with the rubbish. The bag was on top of the dog basket and they didn't take that," added Mr Phillips, who has recently joined Padstow Sea Cadets.
"I have had to replace the items at a cost to me because I need it to take the kids out and keep them safe in the water."
A spokesperson for Cory Environmental said: "We have been in touch with Mr Phillips and are confident that a satisfactory outcome will be reached for both parties shortly."
