Recycling, rubbish and other waste collections have been suspended and all recycling sites will close across Somerset on Friday 18 February in response to Storm Eunice.
The Met Office has issued a red weather warning for parts of the county and an amber warning across the rest. In light of the potential risk to the public, collection crews and recycle site staff, Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) has decided to suspend all services for the day.
Residents scheduled to have a collection are asked not to present their recycling, rubbish or garden waste for collection on Friday. SWP will provide information as soon as possible about return collections.
Missed rubbish collections will be returned for on Saturday 19 February.
Missed recycling collections and clinical waste collections will be returned for next Friday, 25 February.
Garden waste collections scheduled for tomorrow will be suspended until subscribers’ next scheduled collection day.
The 10 recycle sites due to be open tomorrow will be closed: Bridgwater, Chard, Frome, Highbridge, Minehead, Somerton, Taunton, Wellington, Wells, Yeovil.
All 16 recycle sites are expected to open on Saturday and Sunday 9am-4pm as usual, though this will be continually reviewed.
For the latest information about collections and site opening, please check this page and follow @somersetwaste on Facebook and Twitter.
SWP Managing Director Mickey Green said: “This is obviously a difficult decision, but the health and safety of crews and the public has to be paramount.
“We will be working closely with our contractor SUEZ on a plan to return for missed collections and will provide information as soon as possible.
“For tomorrow, we would very much encourage people to keep their recycling, rubbish, garden waste and other containers somewhere very sheltered to avoid them becoming a danger to themselves or others in what look likely to be very extreme conditions in many parts of the county.
“If you notice your neighbour’s bins and boxes are out, perhaps consider letting them know that collections have been suspended so they can bring theirs in, too.”
