Crisp packets and plastic bags can be recycled in the new collections. Picture: Somerset Council

Plastic bag and crisp packet recycling for thousands of extra Somerset households

Tait ap EllisOctober 21, 20240 Comment0

THOUSANDS of extra households in Somerset will soon be able to recycle plastic bags, crisp packets and more in their kerbside collections.

Somerset Council has been given the green-light to roll out the collections to more than 25,000 households.

It means people can leave out a wide range of plastic bags and wrapping, including carrier bags, bread bags, confectionary wrappers, crisp packets, food wrapping and cling film for recycling with their usual collections.

The extension will see a further 25,000 residents in and around Wells, Draycott, Frome and Chilcompton having the hard-to-recycle plastics collected from home.

Households chosen to participate in the scheme will receive a pack of blue collection bags this month, along with more information about what to collect.

In its first year, the Frome trial, which involved 3,500 residents, saw 27 tonnes of soft plastics collected for recycling – about 95,000 collection bags.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, executive lead member for transport and waste services said: “Somerset residents have once again shown their enthusiasm to keep our county green and more sustainable.

“Frome householders have been among the highest participating areas of all local authorities involved in the project.

“The success of phase one means that we can collect and recycle plastic bags and wrapping from thousands more people.

“Look out for your collection bags arriving soon. If you do not receive any information, then your household is not part of the trial at this time.”

At present, the only way to recycle plastic bags and wrapping is at supermarket front of store collection points.

The trial forms part of the larger £3m flexible plastic fund, FlexCollect, which involves nine council’s across England and aims to inform the government and industry on how best plastic bags and wrapping should be added to existing household collection services.

The government plans to introduce kerbside collection of plastic bags and wrapping across England by March 2027.