NEW bins aim to make recycling easier for people in public spaces.

Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT) is replacing waste bins in parks and open spaces with which have compartments for recycling in line with its environmental priorities - as well as helping people dispose of their litter.

Staff and volunteers have been litter picking at locations across the district, targeting problem areas such as residential streets, highway verges and open spaces, the council says, with much of the litter being items which could have been recycled.

And it hopes the new style bins, with a litter and dog waste section in the middle and sections for plastic and cans at either end, will encourage people to dispose of litter responsibly and allow them to recycle while out and about.

Councillor Andy Sully, executive member for environmental services at SWT, said: “At a time when the world needs action, it’s important that we as a local authority are doing everything we can to make it easier for our residents to reduce, reuse and recycle.

“These new replacement bins will create opportunities for us all to implement positive change that will keep our district clean and tidy and help protect our planet.”

The bins, which have bird flaps all the way around and stubber plates for cigarettes on the top, will be installed in parks and other high uses areas first as a trial.

They will be emptied by the council’s open spaces team and street cleaning contractor.

The initiative is separate to the household waste collection services which are managed by the Somerset Waste Partnership on behalf of the four districts and the county council.