DEMOLITION work is due to start next week on the Taunton Recycling site following the major fire which has closed the site since early this month (October).

Specialist equipment is expected to arrive over the weekend, with demolition of the badly damaged Material Recovery Facility (MRF) scheduled to begin on Monday (October 30).

The MRF, which is adjacent to the public recycling area, is beyond repair and the site on the Crown Industrial Estate is not safe to open until it is demolished.

READ MORE: Recycling centre fire as it happened.

It is not yet known how long it will take to complete the demolition, but it is likely to be between one and two weeks.

The site in Priorswood, which is run by Biffa on behalf of Somerset Council, will remain closed until demolition is complete.

Wellington and Bridgwater recycling sites will continue to open seven days a week – supported by staff redeployed from Taunton – until the Taunton site is reopened.

READ MORE: Recycling centre remains closed following fire damage.

Wellington is particularly busy on a Wednesday, so residents are advised to use the Bridgwater site if practical and avoid Wednesday in Wellington if possible.

Kerbside collections are not affected by the closure and residents should continue to put their refuse and recycling out as usual.

Residents who would usually use the Taunton site in the Priorswood area are asked to either:

  • Hold on to their recycling if it can wait;
  • Put it in their kerbside recycling if it is the right kind of material;
  • Try one of the council’s other 15 sites if it is waste that urgently needs to go.

Cllr Dixie Darch, Somerset lead member for environment and climate change, said: “We know the closure of the site has been frustrating for many residents.

"We are pleased that we are getting closer to safely reopening the site.

“We thank you for your patience during this time.”

Fire services were called to the site in the early hours of Tuesday, October 3, when 60 firefighters and seven appliances were involved in tackling the blaze.

The cause of the fire remains known.

Somerset Council has 16 recycling sites across the county which are managed by Biffa on the Council’s behalf.