27/05/2018
It is now possible to recycle additional plastics in Somerset... a step in the right direction...
All recycling sites take plastic food pots, tubs and trays
The biggest change to plastics recycling in Somerset in almost a decade is underway at the county's 16 recycling sites.
Every recycling site is now taking plastic food pots, tubs and trays (PTT) – the rigid containers for yoghurt, margarine, fruit and other foods – and all plastic bottles. Look for new signs on recycling site plastic bottle skips.
As previously announced, in a phased roll-out from 2020, it is planned to collect the same plastic packaging, plus beverage cartons - Tetra Paks and the like - and single-use coffee cups in kerbside collections.
In the new service now underway at all recycling site, the items taken in the plastic bottle and PTT skips will include black plastic food trays. But for all items residents must:
• Remove all foil, film covers, and cardboard attached to or enclosing the PTT.
• Discard all lids, flip-caps and trigger-tops from plastic bottles.
• Rinse out food or other contents, and squash items to fit more in each skip.
They must also exclude:
• Thin plastics, such as cling film, carrier bags, black sacks, or bubble wrap.
• Plastic plant or paint pots, with or without any contents.
• Other plastics, such as plastic toys, CD cases, garden furniture or car parts.
Residents who do not regularly use recycling sites are reminded that they are less busy early on weekdays, and 11 sites stay open to 7pm on Mondays.
While taking extra plastics at the kerbside is still some time away, the new recycling site service is part of the planned transformation of Somerset's waste services over the next two years.
From 2020, it is planned to roll out in phases “Recycle More” weekly kerbside collections taking extra bulky but light plastics in a new fleet of recycling vehicles. The far emptier rubbish bins will be collected every three weeks.
And 2020 will also see the end of landfilling rubbish in Somerset. Rubbish will be taken to a resource recovery centre in Avonmouth to generate electricity.
Between now and 2020, Somerset Waste Partnership will be specifying and buying the new recycling fleet, re-developing depots to cope with all the extra recycling, and finding the right contractor to deliver the changes.
Action on plastics has been long underway, with successful recycling site and kerbside trials of plastic food pots, tubs and trays - known as PTT - to check the quantities, quality and levels of contamination from unwanted materials.
Earlier this year, 12 of Somerset's 16 recycling sites began taking single-use coffee cups, with their layers of plastic and card, in the same skips that already take beverage cartons, such as Tetra Pak and other brands.
And SWP has begun a Schools Against Waste programme across 90 primary schools, will be promoting free water refills in local food outlets, and is offering a plastics pledge card with simple tips and information.
A SWP spokesman said: “Taking plastic food pots, tubs and trays at all recycling sites is a big step forward while the essential work continues for the phased launch of the planned Recycle More weekly kerbside collections of this range of plastic packaging from 2020.
"At the same time, we are working with councils, companies, campaigning groups and schools to help people cut their waste by using less plastic and recycling far more of the plastic they buy when shopping.”
For details of the planned Recycle More services from 2020, visit: https://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/recycle-more/
And for details of the switch from landfilling rubbish in Somerset to energy generation, see: https://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/slider/rrc/
Which 12 recycling sites will take your beverage cartons, such as Tetra Paks, and single use coffee cups, here: https://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/slider/dozen-recycling-coffee-cups/
Details of all recycling sites, including opening hours and what materials each site takes, can be found at https://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/recycling/centres/.
For more on kerbside recycling, see: https://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/recycling-collections/
