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. In both Mendip and South Somerset the service is already collecting more 100 extra tonnes of recycling every week.

Q: When are things changing?

A: The service is already up and running in Mendip and South Somerset and Taunton Deane. It is scheduled to be introduced in Sedgemoor and West Somerset at the end of February 2022 though we will continually be reviewing the timetable, especially in light of the current Covid situation.

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.

We could not do Taunton Deane and West Somerset together, because that would mean closing both our Williton and Taunton depots at the same time and we would not be able to carry on with the normal day to day collections.

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. Increasingly, supermarkets are now providing collections for some of these plastics, so it is worth checking with your local store. or try Find your nearest flexible plastic collection point — Flexible Plastic Fund

You may also be able to find ways of disposing of these and other hard-to-recycle materials through TerraCycle.

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 a couple of weeks or so before the first new collections. So, in Sedgemoor and West Somerset this should start in mid-February.

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 in the country.

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. Choose the “Waste boxes, bins and bags” option.

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: We understand that some people might have concerns. However, three-weekly collections are working well in Mendip, South Somerset and Taunton Deane, 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. In a customer survey more than 80% of the respondents said they preferred the new service to the old service – including the new three-weekly collection. Nearly three-quarters of the respondents said they though the rubbish bin was the right size with the three-week collections because so much space is saved by the extra recycling (10% said they thought the bin was too big).

Make sure you have all the recycling containers you need and give the new service a go. Often people with initial concerns usually find that the service works 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: Our experience in Mendip, South Somerset and Taunton Deane, and what we see elsewhere in the country shows that the three weekly rubbish collections work well. More than 80% of respondents to customer survey in Mendip said they preferred the new service and many people have been surprised by how much space is saved in their bin by the extra recycling week collect weekly.

Three weekly collections have also 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 two-thirds of 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 one; if this affects you, it will be made clear in your leaflet.

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 as part of Recycle More. This will happen a little later in the year at a date to be confirmed. Everyone will be written to twice before anything changes. 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.

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.