Sweeping changes to kerbside recycling in Shepton Mallet will start being rolled out from October.

The Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) has been gearing up for its new Recycle More scheme, which will see more items be accepted for recycling via weekly collections.

The scheme (which will also see refuse collections move to once every three weeks) was due to begin being rolled out across Somerset in late-June, but was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Now the SWP has put forward a fresh timetable for putting the scheme in place, which is set to be approved by its official board on July 31.

Under the new timetable, Mendip will be the first part of Somerset to receive the new collections, which will begin on October 26, 2020.

A total of 51,768 households in Mendip will benefit, including those in Frome, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Street, Wells and the neighbouring villages.

South Somerset will be next, with the entire district (comprising 76,653 households) receiving the new service from June 28, 2021.

The former Taunton Deane area (now part of Somerset West and Taunton) will have Recycle More in place for all 55,207 households from September 27, 2021 – though this could be pushed back to October 25 if there are logical issues.

The remaining 72,312 households in Somerset (comprising Sedgemoor and the former West Somerset area) will begin new collections from February 28, 2022 – though this could be pushed back to March 28 if needs must.

SWP managing director Mickey Green said a review would be carried out in August to ensure the coronavirus "isn't having undue impacts" on staffing and resources.

He said: "The uncertainty of when we will be fully free of Covid-19, and the considerable environmental and financial costs to delay, means we need to proceed as quickly as is practically possible while retaining some flexibility to respond to circumstances.

"We expect this scheme to take our recycling rate to around 60 per cent, and to reduce the amount of residual waste from around 480kg per household to 418kg per household – with this residual waste being used to create energy, rather than going into landfill."

As part of the rollout, five depots across Somerset are being upgraded – beginning with the Evercreech depot, which will handle Mendip's waste.

Councillor Sarah Dyke, chair of the SWP board, said: "Most people in Somerset are recycling.

"We want to make it easier for everyone to recycle even more, protecting our environment, helping tackle climate change and saving taxpayers' money.

"This will be a major step forward and show the commitment of all partners to addressing the climate change agenda.

"There is a lot if enthusiasm out there for this change which will help every resident recycle far more, throw away much less, and have a smaller carbon footprint."

As part of the rollout, every household in Somerset will be issued with a 60-litre reusable sack (dubbed the "bright blue bag"), to ensure they have enough space for their additional recycling.

Councillor Clare Paul, the board's vice-chair, said: "We want to bring Recycle More to the county as soon as possible, but it has to be done area by area so our depots can be upgraded.

"So, whenever the roll-out starts, some residents will see Recycle More sooner than others.

"I'd ask everyone to be patient and carry on recycling as they are until the new service arrives – nothing changes until you get your bright blue bag."

The new timetable for rolling out Recycle More is expected to be approved by the Somerset Waste Board when it meets virtually on July 31 at 10am.