Q: Why Recycle More?

A: Most people in Somerset recycle. The new service makes it easier for everyone to recycle even more, reducing waste, protecting the environment and helping tackle climate change. Somerset has a really good recycling record, but we can do better. Half the average Somerset rubbish bin could have been recycled. More recycling is cheaper, too. The new service will cost around £2m less each year.

Q: When are things changing?

A: It depends where you live. Recycle More starts in four phases over around 18 months, based largely on district council areas. We’ll review it as we go, so dates may move, but this is our current schedule:

• Phase 1 Mendip – end October/early November 2020
• Phase 2 South Somerset – end of June/early July 2021
• Phase 3 Somerset West & Taunton (Taunton Deane area) – end September/early October 2021
• Phase 4 Sedgemoor and Somerset West & Taunton (West Somerset area) – end February/early March 2022

Q: Why not at once? Why must I wait?

A: It is an important change and phases make it more manageable than doing 260,000 households in one go. We are introducing the new service to a new area as each of our five depots is upgraded to handle the extra recycling, something difficult to do all at once without disrupting services. There is a lot for residents to get used to – more recycling, new recycling container, changes to what goes where, and new collection days for many. We need time to give everyone the support they need.

Q: What are the new kerbside materials?

A: You’ll be able to recycle the following every week, along with everything that can already be recycled.

• Plastic pots, tubs and trays
• Food and drinks cartons (including Tetra Pak)
• Small household batteries
• Small electrical items, such as kettles or toasters

Q: Does Recycle More mean I can recycle ALL plastics from my kerbside?

A: Sadly not. There are still some plastics we cannot collect because they are very difficult to recycle. These include crisp packets, cling film, the cellophane that covers many plastic tubs and trays. Remove and discard these before putting the recyclables in your Bright Blue Bag. You may be able to find ways of disposing of these and other hard-to-recycle materials through www.terracycle.com/en-GB/

Q: Should I remove bottle tops?

A: No, rinse and squash plastic bottles, then put the top back on. Rinse glass bottles and jars, and replace the tops.

Q: What is classed as a small electrical item?

A: Any electrical item – if it has or had a plug or batteries – that fits into a carrier bag. For example: kettles, irons, toasters, mobile phones and laptops. These should be kept dry in the bag and left out beside your recycling containers.

Q: Where will I put all this extra recycling?

A: Most goes in a new recycling container – a Bright Blue Bag, delivered shortly before the new service starts. It has a 60-litre capacity, is bottom weighted so it won’t blow away and has a Velcro-fastening. It is for plastics and metals:

• Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays
• Food and drink tins and cans
• Foil and aerosols

(If at any time you do not have the Bright Blue Bag, put its materials into your black box.)

Q: How do I get my Bright Blue Bag?

A: We will deliver them to all households over the two weeks before you need it for the launch of the service on 26 October.

Q: Won’t the bag and contents blow away in high winds?

A: They are based-weighted so should not blow away. The lid is Velcro fastened which keeps the contents inside. When we trialled the bags in Somerset, they worked well, as do similar bags elsewhere.

Q: Will the same things go into my green and black boxes?

A: No. With the new service you need to sort your recycling as follows:

• Blue Bag – plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, food and drink tins and cans, foil and aerosols
• Green box – glass bottles and jars, and cartons (such as Tetra Pak)
• Black box – paper and cardboard
• Brown food waste bin – cooked and uncooked food waste
• Carrier bag – small household batteries and small electrical items

(If at any time you do not have the Bright Blue Bag, put its materials into your black box. NEVER put materials from your green box, black box or food waste bin into your Bright Blue Bag.)

Q: How can I get more recycling containers?

A: Order extra or replacement recycling containers online; details at somersetwaste.gov.uk/recycle-more.

Q: Why not just sort the recycling at the depot?

A: Even the best depot sorting technology cannot compete with the combination of householder sorting, supported by collection crews as they load on to the truck.

Well-sorted, clean materials are in demand from the companies that turn them into new products and packaging. Kerbside recycling works best, keeps costs down and is better for your environment.

Q: What happens to the recycling and rubbish after collection? Is it sent to other countries?

A: 90% of Somerset’s recycling stays in the UK, with more than 50% staying in Somerset. You can find out more through our ‘Beyond the kerb’ analysis https://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/beyond-the-kerb/ If there is UK recycling demand and capacity, 100% will stay in the UK in future. Recyclable materials are reprocessed into new products and packaging, while all food waste is sent to a local anaerobic digestion plant to generate electricity for the national grid and farm compost for food production. Any kerbside rubbish and most material that cannot be recycled at recycling sites goes to an energy-from-waste plant in Avonmouth to generate electricity and heat.

Q: What about people who worry they won’t cope with three-weekly collections?

A: In our large long-term Somerset trials, the new service worked well. Millions of people already have three-weekly rubbish collections, including our near neighbours in east Devon. Recycle More’s extra recycling leaves less to throw away and emptier rubbish bins, so everyone needs to make full use of weekly recycling. Make sure you have all the recycling containers you need and give the new service a go. In trials and elsewhere, people with initial concerns usually found that the service worked well. If you are struggling, get back in touch and we can arrange a call or visit from a Waste Management Officer.

Q: How do I request extra space for my rubbish?

A: Extra space will only be provided if it is essential. If you think three-weekly rubbish collections will be a problem because you have a large family, children in nappies or a medical need, make sure you get in touch. We will assess your circumstances and can arrange a call or visit from a Waste Management Officer to talk things through and help. You can request additional rubbish capacity by calling your district council Customer Service team or emailing recyclemore@somersetwaste.gov.uk Or, you can do it through the My Account function on the SWP website www.somersetwaste.gov.uk If you live in Mendip you can request it online here www.mendip.gov.uk/recyclemore

Q: What help is there for people who have children in nappies?

A: Anyone who has concerns about whether they can manage with three weekly rubbish collections, whatever the reason, can request extra rubbish bin capacity. We will assess your circumstances, including whether a household has children in nappies, and can arrange a call or visit from a Waste Management Officer to talk things through and help. We will only provide extra space if it is essential and we would encourage everyone to make sure they are making full use of the weekly recycling collections before making a request. We also encourage people to consider reusable nappy products and are providing funds to three projects in Somerset that help people make the switch.

Q: Even with the extra recycling, I think three weeks is too long. What should I do?

A: In our trials we found that three-weekly rubbish collections worked well for the majority of people. Similar collections are working well for many people elsewhere in the UK – more than 1.5 milliion households. Even people with initial concerns usually find that it is not a problem once they have tried the new service. It is important to make sure you have all the right containers and make full use of the weekly recycling collections to free up space in your rubbish bin or black sacks. Anyone with concerns about managing with three-weekly rubbish collections can request extra rubbish bin capacity, but we will only provide it if it’s essential.

Q: Will my collection day change? If so, how will I know?

A: Collection days will change for around a third of Mendip households due to the more efficient rerouting of rounds. Two to three weeks before the service starts, your household will be sent a leaflet with your individual collection day calendar. That calendar will show all collection days, including your first Recycle More recycling collection with the Bright Blue Bag and extra materials. Some households will also get an extra, one-off rubbish collection so no-one goes more than three weeks without a rubbish collection; if this affects you, it will be shown in your collection day calendar.

Q: Is this going to affect garden waste, clinical waste or assisted collections?

A: Garden waste and clinical waste collections and their collection days will stay the same. Assisted collections (when crews help people with their recycling and rubbish) will continue but on the new collection days.

Q: What is changing for people with communal recycling collections?

A: The plan is to add more recycling to households with communal collections, but it won’t be until early 2021 in Mendip. What’s possible will vary for each site, depending on space. Before anything changes, we will be in touch to make clear what will happen.

Q: I have a communal rubbish collection, but some of my recycling is collected weekly; will that change?

A: Weekly recycling collections will continue. You will receive a letter before Recycle More starts, explaining any changes to your collection days.