With Recycle More well underway, Shepton Mallet residents are being reminded to make sure they know their new collection days and dates.

The new Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) service is collecting tonnes of extra recycling from the kerbside, with the help of Bright Blue Bags that can be seen across the town.

All the extra weekly recycling means much less rubbish, so rubbish bins and sacks are now being collected every three weeks instead of every two.

That makes it is more important for everyone to check their collection days and dates and make sure they do not miss one, especially as some communities have different collection days for different areas.

Every household in Shepton Mallet received a Collection Day Calendar in the post – part of the 'Recycle More is coming soon' leaflet.

It spells out recycling and rubbish collections for the next 12 months, including over Christmas and bank holidays.

Days and dates can also be checked online, 24/7. Use the My Collection Day button on the www.somersetwaste.gov.uk home page and enter your postcode and then address.

Using the same button, you can even download your collection days into your laptop or mobile device's calendar – helping you make sure you never miss a collection day.

You can also check by calling the Mendip District Council Customer Service team on 0300 3038588.

For a limited time, extra Recycle More staff are checking to make sure recycling and rubbish have been put out on the right day, leaving calling card reminders when needed.

The second Covid lockdown should not affect Recycle More collections or other SWP services.

All recycling sites will remain open as they are now. This will, of course, be reviewed if guidance changes or there is significant impact on staff.

Guidance is available on SWP's website for how to safely manage potentially infected waste: www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/covid2020/

Door-to-door calls from Recycle More staff to discuss and fix any issues will continue, adhering to social distancing and other sensible safety precautions.

Recycle More has added the following extra items to weekly kerbside recycling collections - plastic pots, tubs and trays; cartons including Tetra Paks, small batteries and small electrical devices.

Remember that SWP cannot take soft plastics, such as film, crisp packets or pet food sachets and these should go in your rubbish.

As well as protecting the environment and helping tackle climate change, the new service saves £2 million a year that can go on other vital local services.

For information about Recycle More visit somersetwaste.gov.uk/recycle-more.