Somerset Council, alongside its waste contractors Biffa and SUEZ, is advising residents of temporary changes to waste services on Wednesday and Thursday (24 – 25 June 2026), due to the forecast high temperatures.
The changes support the welfare of collection and recycling site crews, as well as keeping the safety of the public in mind.
The changes will reduce the risk of heat stress following the announcement of a red heat health alert by UKSHA (UK Health Security Agency).
Recycling, rubbish, bulky waste and clinical collections
Waste collection services, operated by SUEZ, will take place from 6am to midday on Wednesday and Thursday.
No collections will take place after midday on those days.
Any recycling not collected on Wednesday or Thursday afternoon will not be returned for. Residents should take it back in and present it again on their next scheduled recycling collection day.
Rubbish and garden waste collections that are not completed on Wednesday or Thursday afternoon will be collected on Saturday.
Any uncollected clinical or bulky waste collections will be completed later in the week, including Saturday. Disruption to these services is expected to be minimal.
Residents are asked to put their recycling, rubbish and garden waste out the night before their scheduled collection day, or by 6am at the latest.
Recycling sites
All 16 of Somerset’s Recycling Sites, which are operated by Biffa, will amend opening hours to close to the public from midday on Wednesday and Thursday.
Closing the sites at noon helps to protect both the team’s that work there, as well as encouraging residents to avoid tasks that may be strenuous in hot weather, like moving and lifting materials.
Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Communities, Environment and Climate Change, said:
The safety and wellbeing of our crews, site staff and residents is our priority during this period of extreme heat.
We’ve worked closely with our contractors, and don’t make changes to arrangements lightly. Waste collection and working at recycling sites is physically demanding work, and closing recycling sites to the public during the hottest part of the day is a sensible step to help keep residents and staff safe.
We know any disruption is inconvenient and thank residents for their patience and understanding. Please put your waste out early, keep an eye on Somerset Council’s channels for updates, and only visit recycling sites during opening hours.
Hot weather food waste advice
As temperatures rise, residents are reminded that a few simple steps can help keep food waste containers clean and reduce smells or pests:
- Keep food waste bin lids closed to reduce smells and pests
- Store bins in a shaded area where possible
- Line caddies with newspaper or compostable liners
- Clean caddies regularly to keep them hygienic
- Freeze food waste until collection day to help prevent odour and flies
Residents are encouraged to keep up to date with any changes to waste services through Somerset Council’s website and Somerset Waste social media channels.
