Snow and ice has forced Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) to postpone all recycling and rubbish collections due on Friday, and to keep all recycling sites closed.
SWP’s priority is the safety of the public and our staff. The worsening condition of roads and pavements, especially in more rural and remote areas, has forced this decision.
Subject to improved weather next week, Friday’s delayed collections will be made on Monday.
A decision on whether to reopen recycling sites this weekend will be taken on Friday.
Those with missed collections are urged not to contact council customer services by phone, so the lines can be kept free so staff can assist those who are particularly vulnerable.
Some 80,000 collections across the county will be affected on Friday, and nine of Somerset’s 16 recycling sites would usually be open from 8am to 4pm on a Friday.
All waste collections finished early today as weather conditions worsened, and recycling sites closed at 3pm.
Somerset Waste Partnership praised the staff of contractors Kier and Viridor for their “incredible effort” on Thursday in completing all but a few collections despite “challenging conditions”, icy roads and vehicle breakdowns.
For updated information on collections and recycling sites, check here, see https://twitter.com/SomersetWaste, or visit: www.somersetwaste.gov.uk.