ALL 16 of Somerset's main recycling centres will be open from tomorrow.

On Tuesday (May 26), all sites run by the Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) will be open.

Eleven sites reopened earlier this month and the remaining five sites in Cheddar, Crewkerne, Castle Cary, Minehead and Somerton, will also operate from tomorrow, on temporary timetables.

Previously, all sites had been closed in response to Coronavirus.

However, the SWP is still asking people to only visit sites if it’s really necessary and warned long queues are expected at certain times, especially first thing in the morning, as the number of unloading bays has been reduced to allow social distancing.

A spokesperson for SWP said: “We’re very grateful for the way people have by and large done the right thing and understood the restrictions we’ve put in place to make sure staff and the public can stay safe.

“That’s why we can stick to the plans to reopen the remaining sites next week.

"We’re constantly reviewing things and looking to ease restrictions as soon as possible within the ongoing social distancing restrictions. We thank everyone for their patience.”

What can I take to the tip?

Restrictions on access and materials remain in place, although from tomorrow (May 26) all sites will also be accepting waste oil (such as engine oil in 5 litre disposable containers) and scrap metal as well as:

  • Rubbish – material you would usually put in your black rubbish bin, excess black bags not taken by kerbside collections, and bulky items like furniture
  • Green waste – garden waste such as grass cuttings, leaves, hedge trimmings
  • Large household electrical items – white goods, cookers TVs etc
  • Hazardous household chemicals such as pesticides, weed killers & insecticides

When is the recycling centre open?

Opening arrangements for this week are as follows:

Nine recycling sites - Bridgwater, Chard, Frome, Highbridge, Street, Taunton, Wellington, Wells, Yeovil - are open six days a week:

• Monday (including Bank Holiday), Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday - 9am-6pm

• Saturday, Sunday - 9am-4pm

• Thursday - CLOSED

The other seven sites are also open Saturday and Sunday 9am to 4pm, and on a varied weekday schedule.

• Bank Holiday Monday 9am-6pm: ten sites open. Castle Cary, Cheddar, Crewkerne, Dulverton, Minehead, Somerton closed.

• Tuesday 26 May 9am-6pm: 15 sites open. Dulverton closed.

• Wednesday 27 May 9am-6pm: ten sites open. Castle Cary, Cheddar, Crewkerne, Dulverton, Somerton, Williton closed.

• Thursday 28 May: ALL CLOSED

• Friday 29 May 9am-6pm: ten sites open. Castle Cary, Cheddar, Crewkerne, Dulverton, Somerton, Williton closed.

• Saturday-Sunday 30-31 May 9am-4pm: all 16 sites open.

The opening hours for all 16 sites from June 1 will be reviewed during the next week.

Chard & Ilminster News:

Can we all turn up whenever we wish?

No, an odd and even vehicle number plate system will still be in place to control numbers:

• Odd numbers on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday (for example 01, 03, 15, 19 etc)

• Even numbers on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday (for example 02, 04, 10, 12, 18 etc)

What other restrictions are in place?

A maximum of two people per household will be permitted and gloves must be worn while outside your vehicle and strict social distancing must be adhered to.

Trailers and 3.5 tonne vans are only allowed access during the new allocated slot of between 4pm and 6pm on weekdays.

Any items you would usually pay to have disposed of will not be accepted – including tyres, gas bottles, soil & hardcore, vehicle parts, commercial waste, plasterboard and Asbestos.

Access to the normal recycling banks will not be possible, so unless you really need to, the SWP says not to bring cardboard, food and drink cans, paper, food waste, plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars, as these can be recycled using the continuing weekly recycle collections.

See www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/recycling-collections for details.

If you want to recycle waste wood, plastic pots tubs and trays, TetraPaks and small electricals, people are being told to hold onto them until the sites return to normal.