Refuse and Recycling

This Service is delivered to you by The Somerset Waste Partnership who are now responsible for the collection of household waste across Somerset. This is a vital service that makes the area a healthy, safe and clean place to live.

To find out which day is the refuse collection day for your area please contact customerservices@mendip.gov.uk.

We will:

• Collect your refuse on the same day (with the exception of Christmas, New Year and Bank Holidays)
• Advertise well in advance any changes to the collection service within the local press.
• Arrange assisted collections to households where there is no one living in the house capable of manoeuvring a wheeled bin to the collection point.

You can help us by:

• Putting your wheeled bin out to the kerbside for emptying by 7:00 am on your collection day - collection times may vary. Please place out no earlier than the night before.
• Collecting it promptly after emptying.
• Ensuring all waste is contained within your wheeled bin (we do not collect waste that is not contained in your bin)
• Using the recycling facilities and composting garden waste.

Please Note that the folllowing items cannot be put in your wheeled bin for collection:

• Clinical waste such as needles, syringes or blades. A clinical waste collection service is available, please see below.
• Hazardous waste such as asbestos, garden fertilisers, pesticides and other household chemicals. Liquid waste such as cans of paint or oil.
• Bricks, concrete or other building and DIY materials.
• Contractors waste such as kitchen units, baths, radiators etc.
• Batteries, engines or other car parts.

However all these items (with the exception of Clinical Waste) can be taken to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.
(Please note asbestos can only be taken to the Frome or Street HWRC)

Easter, Spring and Summer Bank Holidays 2010 - Collection dates

To find out collection dates for over the Easter and Bank Holiday period please click here to view.

Report Missed Refuse Collection

If your refuse has not been collected on the due day and no card has been left please can you complete the online missed refuse collection form or in the case of recycling the online missed recyling form.

Alternatively please advise us by either telephoning Customer Services on 01749 648999 or e-mail: customerservices@mendip.gov.uk

We will require the following information:

• Your Name and full Address including Postcode
• Contact Telephone Number
• If your Box was placed at the kerbside?
• If not where was it placed
• What time your box was put our for collection?

Domestic refuse/recycling collections not made due to bad weather, vehicle breakdown, national fuel shortages or similar will be collected within two working days. Where this is not possible the extra waste will be collected when your next collection is due.

Waste Reduction

Following these simple tips will help you to reduce the amount of waste you need to throw away each week:

• Buy only what you really need - make a list before you go shopping
• Buy products with the least amount of packaging
• Buy concentrates
• Buy in bulk
• Buy fruit and vegetables loose rather than prepacked
• Buy meat from the meat counter of your local butchers or supermarket. There is usually less packaging
• Re-use envelopes and scrap paper
• Cut down on junk mail - write to the Mailing Preference Service, Freepost 22, London, W1E 1EZ or visit their website.

Ash

We have received several enquiries on what to do with ash from stoves and boilers.

Coal ash contains high levels of sulphur and so cannot be used in compost as it will make it too acidic. Therefore please dispose of it in the green wheeled bin after letting it cool.

Wood ash can either be dug into the garden or added in small amounts to the compost. Please don't place it in your garden waste bin or sacks.

Contact

Last Updated

01 June 2010

Page last updated on 01 June 2010