Latest update from Somerset Waste Partnership

Link to SWP homepage

All “business as usual” materials are now being accepted at all 16 recycling sites in Somerset.

That includes cardboard as well as commercial waste and other waste you pay to dispose of – including tyres, gas bottles, soil and hardcore, vehicle parts, plasterboard and asbestos (card payment only).

Trailers and vans can access the sites at any time, as long as they have the appropriate permit.

Although sites have been busy, the recently introduced “shop-style” social distancing arrangements – floor markings and signs – have worked well.

However, please note, staff are unable to offer any assistance with unloading or handling any waste or items.

Unfortunately, no items brought to sites can be put forward for reuse at the moment. They will be recycled where possible until a safe way to handle them has been agreed. Anyone planning to bring items that are fit for reuse is asked to keep hold of them for the time being.

Once on site, safety restrictions remain in place, including:
    · Gloves to be worn when outside the vehicle
   · Maximum of two people per household
   · Strict social distancing

On busier sites traffic, may still be directed by staff.

All sites are open for their usual summer hours. There have been long queues at peaks times, notably first thing in the morning, and we will continue to encourage people to only visit the sites when they really need. Quieter times tend to be 4pm-6pm on weekdays.

Queue cams are operating for Bridgwater (link here, new tab), Chard, Highbridge, Minehead, Street, Taunton, Wells and Yeovil, and we would advise people to check these before they visit.

There have been significant improvements with collection services, with far fewer missed collections and quicker return visits when collections are missed. Customer services teams have also considerably reduced the backlog of requests.

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