Details of when and how the recycling centres that serve Shepton Mallet could reopen are expected within days following new advice from central government.

Dulcote and Dimmer recycling centres will not operate in the same way as before lockdown, and it is expected that there will be restrictions on how many people can visit and what they can bring.

The exact mechanism for enforcing restrictions is not yet clear, but government guidance published yesterday (May 5) seems to suggest enforcing any rules may rely in some degree on the public – with recycling centre workers not expected to determine if visits are legitimate.

The guidance also says that while police should be consulted about opening of recycling centres, they will not be able to assist with deciding if people are legitimately using them.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published new guidelines for how household waste recycling centres could be reopened during the ongoing coronavirus lockdown.

Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow – who holds a ministerial post within Defra – urged local authorities to reopen where it is possible to put social distancing measures in place.

The Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) is expected to publish details of any planned re-openings within the next few days.

A spokesman said on Tuesday (May 5): "It won't be business as usual straight away, there will be restrictions on materials and numbers initially so we can observe social distancing."

Ms Pow laid out the latest guidelines in a letter to the leaders of all local councils in England on Tuesday (May 5).

She said: "We welcome more recent news that some councils are now re-opening household waste recycling centres that have been closed.

"We urge others to follow suit where it is safe to do so while managing social distancing requirements in the most practicable way.

"It is reasonable for people to leave home to take their bulk rubbish to those centres where the material cannot be stored safely at home or disposed of through other legitimate routes."

While recycling centres are allowed to be open by law, it is up to each individual local authority or waste partnership – in this case the SWP – to make a decision.

Ms Pow said that the use of recycling centres would not be monitored by police officers to avoid "diverting police resources" at a time of high demand for their services.

She said: "Household waste recycling centres play an essential role to the economy by providing the recycled materials that industry relies on to make new products, as well as helping householders dispose of their waste and reducing the risk of fly-tipping."

The government has not set a firm date as to when all recycling centres in England should reopen – and has said such facilities should remain shut if there are not enough staff to run them safely.

Kerbside collections of recycling and refuse are still being prioritised – so if too many SWP staff fall ill or are self-isolating, some centres will remain closed.

The new guidance states that residents should continue to try and store their waste at home if possible.

A government circular updated on May 5 suggests that local authorities communicate with residents about appropriate use of centres.

Among suggested communications is advice about when a journey to a recycling centre is necessary.

It says: "It would be reasonable for residents to undertake a journey to a recycling centre if the waste or recycling could not be stored safely at home or disposed of through other legitimate routes such as a dedicated collection.

"By this, we mean that the waste/recycling could not be stored on their property without causing a risk of injury, health or harm to the resident or other members of their household, or harm to public health and amenity."

The government guidance also states that "staff working at Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) should not be expected to determine if visitors to the HWRCs are making a legitimate journey, or if they are bringing items that can or cannot be stored safely at home".

It also makes clear that police cannot assess what is or is not a legitimate trip to a HWRC, and they will be unable to assist in this respect.

The guidance also stipulates that vulnerable people who are shielding and anyone with coronavirus symptoms should not go to an HWRC.

Devon announced on Wednesday morning (May 6) that it would begin reopening its recycling centres in phases from Monday, May 11.

The SWP has said it will publish details of its reopening plans in the coming days once it has analysed Defra's advice in detail.

A spokesman said: "We've been preparing for the reopening of sites in anticipation of updated guidance.

"We'll be digesting it and should be able to give a detailed update, including a confirmed reopening date, soon."