SWP May 2018 briefing
May 31, 2018
Somerset Waste Partnership
Briefing for Members, Partners and Staff
May 2018
Managing waste and recycling services for all authorities in Somerset
Recycling plastic packaging
All 16 Somerset recycling sites can now
take rigid plastic food and other
household pots, tubs and trays (PTT) in
the skips also used for plastic bottles.
Plastic bottles remain the only plastic
we can accept at the kerbside, so
please do not add PTT to kerbside
recycling boxes.
It is planned to add new materials, such
as PTT, beverage cartons (tetrapaks),
batteries and small electrical items to
the kerbside collections, as the Recycle
More service rolls out from 2020. We’re
working hard to procure a new
contractor, new vehicles and improved
depots to enable this.
Suitable for recycling at all recycling
centres:
Plastic pots for yoghurt, soup, face
cream, hair gel.
Plastic tubs for margarine, ice cream,
laundry tabs.
Plastic trays (including black plastic)
for meat, ready meals, and plastic
punnets for fruit and mushrooms.
Please remove all foil, film covers,
absorbent pads and card. Rinse out
any contents and squash items to fit
more in the skips.
Not suitable for recycling are plastic
films, such as cling film, bubble wrap,
carrier bags and film covers; plastic
paint pots, plant pots or seed trays; or
other plastics, such as toys, garden
furniture, car parts, CDs, DVDs, VHS
cases or tapes.
Pledge against Preventable
Plastic
SWP has also launched a new postcard
size “Pledge Against Preventable
Plastic” with six easily-adopted ideas to
cut down on plastic. To sign up to the
pledge visit our website -
https://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/acton-
plastics/. Hard copies are available
on request for organisations, such as
parish councils. For bulk copies, email
enquiries@somersetwaste.gov.uk.
Recycle More procurement
The procurement process for the new
Recycle More kerbside service (extra
materials collected weekly for recycling
and rubbish collected every three
weeks) was launched in May. Over the
summer and autumn SWP will be in
dialogue with the selected suppliers. To
ensure that Somerset Waste Board can
review the outcome of the first stage of
the competitive dialogue process and
any changes to the final specification,
an additional Board meeting has been
arranged for 19 October.
Schools Against Waste update
SWP’s Schools Against Waste project
with Carymoor Environmental Trust is
going from strength to strength with
dozens of visits to primary schools
either completed or booked for the
summer or autumn term. Unsurprisingly,
as pupils learn the new 3Rs – reduce
reuse recycle – the Fantastic Plastic
workshop is proving very popular. To
find out more about how your school
can receive a visit from the team visit
https://www.carymoor.org.uk/trips/schoo
ls-against-waste
Managing waste and recycling services for all local authorities in Somerset
Seeking local Food Champions
SWP is running a further free Food
Champion training event on 19 July at
Oaklands Primary School, Yeovil
(booking essential). Trained volunteers
take waste prevention messages into
their community.
Training may be beneficial for people
providing support for others on
budgeting, life skills, eating well or
greener living where the resources can
complement existing activities.
For more information and booking
please see:
https://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/tackl
ing-food-waste/
Safe gas canister disposal
Viridor, SWP’s recycling site contractor,
has been running a national campaign
to remind the public of the dangers of
unsafe disposal of gas canisters,
including smaller camping cylinders and
those used for garden heaters and grills.
Ahead of summer barbeques, when
residents may be purchasing new gas
cylinders, residents are reminded NOT
to dispose of gas cylinders in their
refuse bins but to return these to their
gas retailer. Alternatively, for a small
fee, spent gas cylinders can be taken to
a recycling centre.
Incorrect disposal of gas canisters that
still contain flammable liquids and gases
can lead to dangerous and costly
explosions and fires if they are crushed
or broken in rubbish trucks, at recycling
centres or on landfill sites. Other risky
items in rubbish bins include: hot coals,
batteries aerosols. Our advice:
www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/slider/howto-
prevent-a-blaze-in-your-refuse-bin/
Latest media releases
Recent communications included:
Celebrating in May need not cost the
earth
All recycling sites take plastic food
pots, tubs and trays
Treat your garden to a compost bin
this spring
Somerset Waste Board
SWP is the executive arm of SWB, with
two members nominated by each of the
six Somerset partner councils, one of
which must be the portfolio holder for
waste and/or the environment. The
Chair and Vice-Chair are elected at the
Board AGM from its membership. The
next SWB meeting is the AGM on
Friday 29 June 2018. SWB meeting
agendas, papers and reports are
available online. For more on SWP,
SWB and waste services:
www.somersetwaste.gov.uk.
SWB membership by council is:
Mendip – Cllrs Nigel Woollcombe-
Adams (Vice Chair), Nigel Taylor
Sedgemoor – Cllrs Dawn Hill, Gill
Slocombe
Somerset County – David Hall,
Clare Aparicio Paul
South Somerset – Cllrs Jo Roundell
Greene, Derek Yeomans (Chairman)
Taunton Deane Borough – Cllrs
Patrick Berry, Gwilym Wren
West Somerset – Cllrs Martin
Dewdney, Brenda Maitland-Walker
Information on SWP services
For all advice and information, visit
www.somersetwaste.gov.uk. Follow us
on Facebook and Twitter. Sign-up to
our e-zine on our website. All partners’
customer service helplines can assist
with service enquiries.