Somerset Council has released the latest results from its annual recycling tracker, revealing a positive shift in keeping things local, with 5.4% more recycling being processed within Somerset, compared to the previous year.
Key highlights from the latest report:
- 99% of all plastics collected in Somerset were recycled within the UK
- The total amount of waste recycled and reused locally rose by 2.5%
- Waste sent to landfill dropped by over 57%, marking a significant environmental win
Cllr Richard Wilkins, Lead Member for Transport and Waste Services, commented: “We’re incredibly proud of these results. It’s vital for us to understand exactly what happens to the recycling we collect from residents, and it’s fantastic to see more of it being processed right here in Somerset.
“Publishing these figures annually helps us stay transparent and accountable, residents want to know what happens to their recycling. Seeing how much stays close to home encourages participation.”
You can explore the full tracker results here: www.somerset.gov.uk/recycling-tracker
The announcement coincides with Recycling Week 2025, running from 22–28 September, a national campaign led by Recycle Now. This year’s theme, “Rescue Me! Recycle”, shines a spotlight on everyday items that are often mistakenly thrown away but can actually be recycled.
Following the success of last year’s campaign, Rescue Me! Recycle returns with three new characters joining the recycling mission:
- Shampoo bottles
- Foil
- Toothpaste tubes
Thanks to industry innovation and WRAP’s technical expertise, toothpaste tubes can now be collected by some local authorities, including Somerset Council at kerbside collections for recycling, marking a major step forward in tackling hard-to-recycle items.
Publishing what happens after each tonne of waste is collected shows that the reprocessing companies used are legitimate – no recycling is burned, dumped or ends up in the ocean.
Recycling in Somerset could become anything from cardboard boxes and plastic pipes, to soil conditioner and car parts.
