Residents of Shepton Mallet should keep an eye on their postboxes as Somerset Council rolls out changes to waste collection schedules affecting numerous households across the former Mendip district.

The adjustments, initiated by the council's contractor, SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, aim to streamline collection routes, reduce environmental impact, and maintain cost efficiency without additional expenses to the council.

From the week commencing 17 June, many in Shepton Mallet may notice changes to their collection days or the weeks their rubbish is collected, though collections will continue every three weeks. Some households might also receive a one-off additional rubbish collection to bridge gaps during the transition to new routes.

Early May will see the arrival of notification letters to households with altered collection schedules, accompanied by a new service guide and a collection day calendar—vital for staying informed of the upcoming changes.

Those whose collection days remain unchanged will not receive a letter but can expect to receive the new service guide and calendar towards the end of May. Garden waste collection subscribers should continue as per the current schedule, and no changes are planned for clinical or communal property waste collections.

Councillor Dixie Darch, Executive Lead Member for Climate and Environment, said: "Changes to recycling and rubbish collections have been designed to make the routes more manageable for crews, as well as being more environmentally friendly and cost effective.

"Look out for your letter and service guide and take note of your collection day. If you don't receive a letter this means that your day is staying the same. T

"he changes come at no additional cost to the council and will help towards making the county greener and more sustainable. Please make a note of your new collection day and possible interim rubbish collection. Crews can't return for missed collections where bins are not out on the right day."

Residents seeking further information about the new collection schedules can visit the Somerset Council website.