Announcement by Somerset County Council

The weekend’s announcement of a second national lockdown may prompt questions about impacts on Somerset Waste Partnership services, notably recycling sites which were closed during the first lockdown period earlier this year.

 

As things stand, the plan is that all 16 sites will remain open on standard opening hours. You may recall that the Government clarified near the end of the first lockdown that visits to recycling sites are considered ‘permitted journeys.’

 

Somerset’s sites already have measures in place to protect the public and staff and these include;
  • no one with COVID symptoms or those asked to shield should visit sites
  • strict social distancing must be followed
  • visitors are asked to wear gloves and are limited to a maximum of two per vehicle from the same household
  • masks are discretionary
  • site staff are not able to give their usual assistance in lifting heavy or large items
Collections, including garden waste and the roll-out of Recycle More, will continue as normal and we will be re-emphasising our messages about how people should dispose of personal waste if they, or someone in their household, has symptoms. SWP, SUEZ and Viridor will continue to monitor the situation, guidance and any impacts on staff and will make changes if appropriate.