NEW rules requiring all asbestos to be double wrapped and sealed for disposal are being introduced at the Priorswood recycling site, in Taunton, and the rest of Somerset from March.

Cement bonded or sheet asbestos is accepted at Priorswood - for other forms of asbestos, residents should seek professional advice.

People must call the recycling site in advance and bring household asbestos in heavy duty plastic, such as rubble bags closed with gaffer or duct tape.

Large sheets should not be broken up but double wrapped using heavy duty plastic.

Anyone unable to take asbestos or items containing asbestos to Priorswood can arrange for an asbestos collection for a fee with Somerset County Council customer services on 0845-3459188.

Storage heaters, which can contain asbestos, should not be broken up but disposed of through an asbestos collection or taken complete and double wrapped to Priorswood after calling the site.

Somerset Waste Partnership managing director Steve Read said: “Somerset is raising the standards to ensure everyone’s safety, whether it’s residents disposing of asbestos or other recycling site users and staff.”

The maximum amount of asbestos that can be taken to Priorswood at any time equates to 16 sheets 6ft x 2ft or 2.5m x 0.6m.

Commercial or trade asbestos cannot be collected or accepted at any recycling site - businesses must make arrangements with a commercial waste management company.

Signs and leaflets about the risks and rules of asbestos are available at the seven recycling sites that take it for disposal.