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 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 – October 2020
• Phase 2 South Somerset – end of June 2021
• Phase 3 Somerset West & Taunton (Taunton Deane area) – autumn 2021
• Phase 4 Sedgemoor and Somerset West & Taunton (West Somerset area) – early 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. Each of our five depots needs to be upgraded to handle the extra recycling, something difficult to do all at once without disrupting services. And it takes time to give people the information and 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

For more detail, visit the Recycle More materials list.

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

A: No. 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 TerraCycle.

A number of supermarkets are now providing collections for some of these plastics, so it is worth checking with your local store.

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 should not 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. In South Somerset, that means the two weeks before 28 June.

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 used in existing Somerset Recycle More collections, they work 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 via the My Waste Services menu.

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.

It also makes it easier for us to get your recycling reprocessed in the UK –  as 98% is at the moment.

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

A: At the moment more than 98% of Somerset’s recycling stays in the UK, with more than 50% staying in Somerset. You can find out more through our Recycling Tracker analysis. 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: Three-weekly collections have been working well in Mendip since October 2020 and millions of people across the UK 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 going through the My Waste Services menu on this website.

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; more details on reusable nappies here.

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

A: Three weekly collections have been working well in Mendip since October 2020 and millions of people across the UK already have three-weekly rubbish collections, including our near neighbours in east Devon. 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 is essential.

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

A: Collection days will change for around a third of South Somerset households as round routes are made more efficient. Around three weeks before the service starts, you 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: Properties like flats, houses of multiple occupancy and retirement villages will have improved collections at the same time as individual households. What is possible will depend on the space and access at each site. Where possible, we will offer people the full Recycle More kerbside collections. Where that is not possible, we will expand the communal collections to include cardboard and plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays.

Everyone will be written to twice before anything changes.

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.