WHEN recycling centres will reopen and green waste collections will recommence has been revealed.

Eleven out of Somerset’s 16 recycling centres will be opening their gates on Monday (May 11) - but motorists are advised only to use them for ‘essential visits’.

Garden waste collections are also set to resume on Monday, after the council suspended both services due to coronavirus restrictions.

Different measures will be in place once the centres reopen to ensure the safety of the public and Somerset Waste Partnership staff.

The type of materials that can be disposed of will also be restricted, and visitors are warned to expected long waits as the centres will operate on a ‘one in one out’ basis.

A spokesperson for SWP said: “The closure has been frustrating and we’ve wanted to see sites open as much as anyone, but it has to be in line with the regulations and guidance that is there to protect everyone.

“The government guidance issued on Tuesday is clear that only those who really need to come, should come.

"If it’s not an essential journey, be patient and wait until things are back to normal.

“The sites will be busy, any trip will take much longer than usual and strict social distancing will need to be followed. We will not tolerate any abusive behaviour.

"These temporary arrangements will be reviewed constantly with the aim of getting sites back to accepting all materials as soon as it’s practically possible, but it will take time.”

The recycling sites opening on 11 May are: Bridgwater (Saltlands) Chard, Dulverton, Frome, Highbridge, Priorswood (Taunton), Street, Wellington (Poole), Wells (Dulcote), Williton and Yeovil.

An odd and even vehicle number plate system will be used to control numbers. You can only visit the on certain days depending on your number plate: odd numbers on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, and even numbers on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.

All 11 sites will be open from 9am-6pm on weekdays, 9am-4pm on weekends, and all closed on Thursdays.

To start with, only the following will be accepted:

n Rubbish – material you would usually put in your black rubbish bin, excess black bags not taken by kerbside collections, and bulky items like furniture.

n Green waste – garden waste such as grass cuttings, leaves, hedge trimmings.

n Hazardous household chemicals such as pesticides, weed killers and insecticides

Any items that you would usually pay to have disposed of will not be accepted – including tyres, gas bottles, soil & hardcore, vehicle parts, commercial waste, plasterboard and Asbestos.

Access to the normal recycling banks will not be possible, meaning materials such as cardboard, tins and plastics will not be taken.

The remaining five sites - Cheddar, Crewkerne, Castle Cary (Dimmer), Minehead and Somerton - are expected to reopen from Tuesday, May 26, though the plan will be constantly reviewed depending on how things are working.

Collection days for green waste will be changed, and customers are advised to check their renewal letter or online to find out which day.

Crews will not be collecting material that is not in a green bin or an SWP pre-paid sack, or from any households which have not subscribed to this year’s service. And they will not collect bins that are overfull or too heavy to lift – so dispose of it through collections gradually, if necessary taking some material out and wait for the next collection or take it to a recycling centre if disposing of it is essential.

Subscriptions are being extended until mid-May 2021 so that subscribers do not lose out financially as a result of the disruption.

The SWP spokesperson added: “We’ve worked flat-out to keep as many of our service going through this crisis, including weekly recycling and fortnightly rubbish collections.

“That itself it an achievement and we’re happy to now be moving closer to business as usual, but there is a long way to go.”

For more information visit somersetwaste.gov.uk.