Refuse collections

IMPORTANT: Check here for the personal waste disposal guidance for anyone with coronavirus symptoms.

The standard refuse collection service for most households (excluding communal properties) is every three weeks in a single 180-litre wheeled refuse bin.

If your property is unsuitable for a wheeled bin (due to steps or lack of off-road storage), up to four sacks of refuse will be taken each collection.

Kerbside rubbish was for many years landfilled in Somerset at two sites – Dimmer near Castle Cary and Walpole near Bridgwater – but as part of major changes to all waste services, it is now all sent to generate electricity at an energy-from-waste plant in Avonmouth.

As well as electricity for the national grid, the energy-from-waste plant also powers a co-located plastics reprocessing plant.

When are my collection days?

Check all your collection days online via the My Collection Day search engine on the home page.

Missed collections

If your rubbish collection has been missed, you can report it online after 7pm on the due day and within five working days (not including the initial collection day itself), using the My Waste Services pull-down menu on the home page.

Not wanted in refuse

Food waste
Anything collected for recycling
Garden waste
Hot fuel (ash, charcoal, solid fuels from fires or barbeques) – allow to cool and bag before binning
Rubble, earth and stones
Batteries, household or vehicle
Gas cannisters – return to shop or take empty to recycle site (charges)
Aerosols (if empty add to recycling, do not pierce or crush)
Hypodermics
Bulky household items
Engine oil, paint or other chemicals
Business or commercial waste

Taken in refuse collections

Before putting anything in your bin check it cannot be recycled.

Plastic packaging (except plastic pots, tubs, trays and bottles) and film
Vacuum cleaner contents
Cat, dog or other pet litter
Nappies (please consider using washable cloth nappies instead of disposables, which reduce waste and are also cheaper in the long run).
Cold ash (allow to cool before depositing in your bin and best to put in bags to prevent dust)
Contents of portable barbeques (allow to cool before depositing in your bin and best to put in bags; rinse and recycle the aluminium tray with other foil)
Broken glass (ensure it is carefully wrapped)

Refuse service guidance

Report any missed refuse collection using the My Waste Services pull-down menu on the home page.

Unless you have an assisted collection, wheeled bins or sacks should be at the edge of your property by 7am on collection day (as collection times can vary) and no earlier than the night before. Please take care not to obstruct pavements or roads and take bins back in as soon as possible after collections.

Bin lids should be closed and only refuse in the bin will be collected. Extra refuse on top or alongside will not usually be taken.

If you occasionally have extra household waste for disposal, this can be saved until your next collection or taken to a recycle site.

Request a wheeled refuse bin

To request a wheeled refuse bin, use the My Waste Services pull-down menu on the home page.