The changes will be introduced in two phases, the first will begin in February 2024.

Phase one areas include: former Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton and a small portion of South Somerset.

The second phase is due to begin in June 2024.

Phase two areas include: former Mendip and majority of South Somerset.

Every household with a new collection day will be written to twice before anything changes.

Residents with a change in phase one will receive a letter in January. A few weeks later they will receive a service guide, which includes a new 18 month collection calendar.

Some towns and villages may be served by more than one route and changes may affect some streets but not others.

Residents may have:

• a change to collection day
• a change in week that their refuse is collected
• a one-off interim refuse collection (this is to make sure no-one goes more than three weeks between refuse collections)

There will be no changes to:

• collection days for garden waste subscribers
• clinical waste collections
• communal property collections
• schools waste collection

We are bringing in new routes to make sure our collections are as efficient as possible. This will reduce carbon emissions and improve the quality of service, but means that collections need to change for many households

The new routes should cut vehicle mileage and reduce carbon emissions by 7%. We will also reduce the number of vehicles on the road.

We are sorry, if you put your recycling and refuse out on the wrong day, we will not be able to return for it. Crews will return on their next scheduled day.

All residents will receive a calendar (even if their days stay the same). Calendars will arrive in line with the phases below.

You can download your collection calendar at any time online. Please note changes will not be updated until the new routes begin (12 February for phase one).

Changes will be introduced in two phases.

Phase one areas include: former districts of Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton and a small portion of South Somerset.

The second phase is due to begin in June 2024.

Phase two areas include: former districts of Mendip and the rest of South Somerset

Waste collections are carried out on behalf of Somerset Council by their contactor Suez. The changes made will increase efficiency and therefore be cost effective. Any costs incurred by changing collections are paid for by Suez.

Yes, the frequency of all waste collections will stay the same. Some households will receive a one-off refuse collection on a Saturday to make sure they do not miss out while the changeover happens.