RECYCLING and rubbish collection days will be changing for more than 120,000 homes in Somerset in February next year.

The changes come as new routes are introduced by Somerset Council’s contractor, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK.

The alterations, which will not cost the council, will make rounds more efficient and more manageable for crews while reducing mileage and carbon emissions.

The collection day schedules will change for around 85 per cent of homes in the former Sedgemoor and Somerset West and Taunton areas, as well as a small part of South Somerset.

Anyone with a change to their collection days will be written to twice, first with a letter in January followed around three weeks later with a service guide featuring a collection day calendar for the next 18 months.

It is important that residents know their new collection days – crews will not be able to return for either recycling or refuse if you miss your new collection day.

Because some towns and villages will be covered by more than one route, days may change for some households but not others.

Residents may have:

  • a change to collection day;
  • a change in week that their rubbish is collected;
  • a one-off interim rubbish collection.

There will be no changes to:

  • collection days for garden waste subscribers;
  • clinical waste collections;
  • communal property collections with shared collections (such as blocks of flats, houses of multiple occupancy and retirement developments);
  • schools waste collections.

Changes to routes and collection days for the rest of the county – in the former Mendip and South Somerset areas – are expected to be introduced in June 2024.

Cllr Dixie Darch, Somerset Council's executive lead member for climate and environment, said: “We’re writing to every household that will have a change to their collection day.

"Please keep an eye out for your letter in the New Year. If you don’t receive a letter this means that your day is staying the same.

“The changes will make the collections more efficient and help us to reduce carbon emissions.

“Please make a note of your new collection day and possible interim rubbish collection.

"Crews can’t return for missed collections where bins are not out on the right day.”