1st September 2026
Shell shocked! – Tortoise found at recycling centre
A routine day at the St Erth Household Waste and Recycling Centre (HWRC) turned into an extraordinary animal rescue when site staff helped reunite a lost tortoise with his owner of 10 years.
Arnie the tortoise was discovered at a Cornwall HWRC operated by SUEZ recycling and recovery UK on behalf of Cornwall Council. Found amongst the green waste recycling, site staff Kylie Osborne acted quickly to ensure she was cared for safely while efforts were made to trace his owner.
Working with Cornwall Council and using information available through the Cornwall Council’s HWRC booking system, officers were able to identify and contact visitors that had booked slots for that morning. After further enquiries, Arnie’s owner was successfully located and delighted to learn that their pet had been found safe and well.
Jon Davis, Operations Manager for SUEZ said: “Our teams see all sorts of unusual items arriving at our recycling centres, but finding a tortoise was certainly a first for many of our staff. What was most important was making sure Arnie was kept safe while we worked with Cornwall Council to find her owner. We are delighted that, thanks to a fantastic team effort and the information available through the booking system, Arnie is now back where she belongs.”
The reunion was an emotional moment for Arnie’s owner, who had cared for the tortoise for a decade and was overjoyed to have her safely returned home.
