Somerset Refuse Collection: Bin Days, Missed Bins & Waste

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Somerset bins • recycling boxes • missed collections

Somerset Bin Help Without Council-Page Hunting

Use this page to solve the task fast: check your collection day, put boxes out correctly, report a missed collection at the right time, and choose the proper route for garden, bulky, clinical, communal or extra waste.

Somerset uses weekly recycling and food waste, three-weekly rubbish for most homes, and a kerbside-sort system. The most helpful rule is simple: choose the right container before collection morning.

Choose my problem Check bin day Missed collection steps

Quick answer: Somerset Council collects recycling and food waste every week. For most homes, non-recyclable rubbish is collected every three weeks. Garden waste is a paid fortnightly subscription, and bulky waste is a charged collection service.

Most important rule: put containers at the edge of your property by 7am, no earlier than the night before, with waste fully inside the correct Somerset Council container. Do not use black sacks for recycling.

Official Somerset waste hub Report missed collection Recycling collection rules

Choose your Somerset waste problem first

Tap the issue. This gives the correct action before you open a form.

Choose one option above to see the best next step.

Bin day and 7am collection rules

Most Somerset collection problems start with timing, container placement or wrong items. Use this table before reporting anything.

Question Exact Somerset answer Do this
How do I check my collection day? Use Somerset’s online collection-day calendar or waste hub. Enter your exact address and check for reroute/service guide updates.
What time should containers go out? By 7am on collection day, unless a live weather alert says earlier. Put them out the night before if your road is collected early.
How early can I put them out? No earlier than the night before. Do not leave boxes or bins out for days.
Where should they go? At the edge of your property, unless you have assisted collection. Keep paths, roads, gates and pavements clear.
What if the weather is very hot? Somerset may start collections from 6am. Check official updates and put waste out by 6am or the night before if advised.
What after collection? Bring containers back in as soon as possible. Mark boxes/bins with house name or number to reduce mix-ups.
Local tip: Somerset has many narrow lanes, villages, hills and rural roads. Put containers where the crew can see them without blocking the road or pavement.
Somerset waste hub GOV.UK Somerset bin-day route

Somerset containers: what each box, bag and bin does

Somerset is a kerbside-sort area. That means recycling is separated before collection, not thrown into one mixed recycling bin.

Container Use it for Key mistake to avoid
Bright blue bag Plastic bottles, plastic pots/tubs/trays, tins, cans, aerosols, foil and empty toothpaste tubes. No gas canisters. Aerosols must be empty and not pierced.
Box 1, usually black Paper and card: newspapers, magazines, leaflets, directories, envelopes, cardboard and small torn-up card. Large boxes must be broken down; pieces bigger than the box should go to a recycling site.
Box 2, usually green Glass bottles and jars, plus cartons such as Tetra Pak. No broken glass, Pyrex, kitchenware, light bulbs or drinking glasses.
Brown food waste bin All cooked and raw food waste. No packaging, liquids, oil, garden waste or pet waste.
Small tied carrier bags Batteries, small electrical items, vapes, shredded paper, wearable clothes and shoes. Never use black sacks for recycling; they can be mistaken for rubbish.
Black rubbish bin Non-recyclable household waste only. No food waste, recycling, garden waste, batteries, electricals, gas canisters or bulky items.
Practical storage tip: Somerset does not supply recycling box lids and does not recommend box dividers. If you buy stretch covers, remove them before collection and mark boxes with your house name or number.

Missed collection decision tree

Somerset says missed collections should be reported after 7pm on the collection day, because delays can happen during the day.

Was it the correct day?
No → check your collection-day calendar first. Some collections are changing due to reroutes.
Was it out by 7am?
No → it may not count as missed. Put it out on the next correct collection day.
Was the right item in the right container?
No → fix the sorting problem. Wrong items can lead to non-collection.
Was waste fully contained?
No → heavy, overfilled or side waste may be refused.
Was there a tag or note?
Yes → follow the reason shown. Do not report as missed until the issue is corrected.
Is it after 7pm?
Yes → use the official missed collection form. If already reported and not collected within two working days, keep the eight-digit service request number ready.
Reporting windows: Somerset says missed rubbish or garden waste can be reported on the same day or up to 5 working days later. Missed recycling can be reported on the same day or up to 3 working days later.
Report missed collection Waste contact and complaints

Weekly recycling sorting guide

Somerset collects recycling weekly, but the quality depends on keeping materials in the right box or bag.

Material Where it goes Prep before collection Do not include
Plastic bottles Bright blue bag Rinse, squash, put caps/tops back on. Pumps and trigger sprays.
Pots, tubs and trays Bright blue bag Rinse. Any colour is accepted, including non-black plant pots. Plastic toys, pans, utensils or non-packaging plastics.
Tins, cans, aerosols, foil Bright blue bag Rinse cans. Scrunch foil. Aerosols must be empty. Gas canisters, large beer kegs, sharp metal items.
Paper and cardboard Box 1, usually black Tear large pieces. Put small pieces inside larger boxes. Wallpaper, shiny/thermal receipts, huge boxes.
Glass bottles and jars Box 2, usually green Rinse. Put lids back on. Broken glass, mirrors, Pyrex, light bulbs, drinking glasses.
Cartons Box 2, usually green Rinse, squash and replace caps. Food-filled or dirty cartons.
Batteries, vapes, small electricals Separate small bags Batteries/vapes in tied bags; small electricals in untied bag. TVs, monitors and microwaves.
Wearable clothes and shoes Tied bag on top of recycling box Only good-quality wearable items, keep dry. Bedding, curtains, blankets and throws at kerbside.
Safety warning: gas canisters should never go in recycling or refuse because they can cause fires or explosions during sorting.
Official recycling collection page Somerset recycling tracker

Food waste: weekly collection and what goes in

Food waste is collected every week on the same day as recycling for most Somerset homes. It goes to anaerobic digestion near Bridgwater to make green energy and soil improver.

Put in food waste

  • Meat, fish, bones and carcasses if they fit.
  • Fruit, vegetables, bread, pasta and cereal.
  • Tea bags, coffee grounds and coffee filter paper.
  • Cheese, eggs, pet food and plate scrapings.
  • Paper kitchen towel and napkins.

Keep out of food waste

  • Plastic bags and food packaging.
  • Aluminium foil, cardboard or plastic packaging.
  • Liquid food waste, including cooking oil.
  • Garden waste.
  • Cat litter, dog/cat/pet waste or dead animals.
Hot weather tip: lock the lid of the brown food waste bin, keep it in shade if possible, line your caddy with newspaper or compostable liners, and clean it with washing-up liquid or white vinegar.
Official food waste guidance Reduce food waste tips

Three-weekly rubbish bin: what belongs in it

The black rubbish bin is for household waste that cannot be recycled. For most Somerset homes, it is collected every three weeks.

Can go in rubbish Must not go in rubbish Better route
Vacuum cleaner contents. Food waste. Brown food waste bin.
Cat, dog or other pet litter and waste. Anything collected for recycling. Recycling boxes/bag.
Nappies and low-grade double-bagged non-infectious hygiene waste. Garden waste. Garden subscription, sacks, composting or recycling site.
Cold ash, bagged to prevent dust. Hot ash, charcoal or fuel. Allow to cool fully, then bag before binning.
Carefully wrapped broken glass. Batteries, electricals, gas canisters, hypodermics, paint, oil or chemicals. Use recycling site, clinical/sharps service or hazardous route.
One-bin rule: Somerset provides one 140-litre or 180-litre black bin per household for non-recyclable waste. Extra or larger capacity is assessed only when recycling and food waste services are being used properly.
Official rubbish collection page

Extra waste, rejected items and “why didn’t they take it?”

Somerset’s collection crews do not take everything at the kerbside. Use this section to choose the next route instead of leaving extra waste out.

Problem Likely reason Correct fix
Too much cardboard More than two recycling containers filled with cardboard will not be collected. Cardboard not flattened may be refused. Flatten and break down; take very large pieces to a recycling centre.
Bin too heavy Heavy bins can be unsafe to move or lift. Remove rubble, soil, DIY waste or heavy non-household material.
Waste in wrong container Somerset kerbside sorting needs correct separation. Use the container table above and re-present correctly.
Extra rubbish beside bin Only waste inside the bin is normally collected. Save until next collection or take to a recycling site.
Business or commercial waste Household collections do not accept business waste. Use a commercial waste service and keep duty-of-care records.
Man-with-van warning: If you pay someone to take waste, check they are a registered waste carrier and ask where the waste will go. Otherwise, your waste could end up fly-tipped.
Check waste carrier register Find a recycling centre

Garden waste subscription: bins, sacks, price and rules

Somerset collects domestic garden waste every two weeks for subscribers using 180-litre wheeled bins or 90-litre compostable paper sacks.

Garden waste point Somerset detail Action
Wheeled bin subscription £76.30, valid until 31 March 2027. Subscribe, renew or update online.
Garden sacks Pack of ten sacks: £37.90. Request sack collection before midday on the day before the scheduled collection.
Collection frequency Every two weeks for subscribers. Put out by 7am, no earlier than the night before.
Christmas pause Paused for two weeks after Christmas every year. Store, compost or use recycling site if needed.
Refunds No refunds for cancelling during the year. Check terms before ordering.
Where it goes Composted in Somerset and turned into Revive soil conditioner. Use the service or compost at home instead of burning.

Garden waste accepted

  • Flowers, plants, grass cuttings and leaves.
  • Hedge trimmings.
  • Small branches less than 15cm or 6 inches wide.
  • Bark.
  • Small amounts of bedding from household vegetarian pets, such as rabbits or hamsters.

Garden waste not accepted

  • Plastic plant pots, plastic bags or biodegradable packaging.
  • Metal, glass, rubble, stone, soil, turf or compost.
  • Food waste, vacuum cleaner waste or nappies.
  • Cat/dog waste, dead animals, chicken or pigeon bedding.
  • Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed, Himalayan Balsam and other listed invasive plants.
Local garden tip: Do not burn garden waste unless official advice says it is the right route for a plant disease issue. Somerset says burning can cause pollution and local nuisance.
Garden waste collections Composting tips

Bulky waste collection: cost, accepted items and safer alternatives

Use bulky waste for large household items when reuse or recycling-site drop-off is not practical.

£

Charge

£82.60 for 1 to 3 bulky items.

+

Extra items

£23.10 per additional item, up to 5 items.

2

Lift rule

Items can only be collected if two people can lift them.

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Unusual item?

Call 0300 123 2224 before booking.

Usually suitable Important checks Better route if possible
Sofas, armchairs, tables, chairs, mattresses, bed frames, white goods and wood-only doors. Reusable items should work properly and not be damaged. Donate, reuse, British Heart Foundation, local reuse groups or recycling site.
Upholstered items such as sofas, chairs, cushions and bean bags. Reusable upholstered items need a fire label, good condition, no rips, stains or damage. Reuse charity if accepted; otherwise bulky booking.
Large furniture or domestic appliance from your home. Do not book business, commercial or trade waste. Licensed waste carrier if not council household waste.
Money-saving tip: many large and bulky items, including mattresses, furniture and white goods, can be taken to Somerset recycling sites at no cost, although some items are charged.
Bulky waste collection Reuse furniture options Call 0300 123 2224

Replacement bins, boxes and extra capacity

Use this if containers are lost, damaged, missing after moving house, or your household genuinely needs more black-bin capacity.

Need Somerset rule What to do
Replacement recycling box, bin or bag You can request replacement containers online. Use Somerset’s order form.
Moved into a property with no containers Request containers; council-supplied bins/boxes should normally be left behind by previous occupants. Order replacements and mark them with house number/name.
Recycling box lids Somerset does not supply lids and does not recommend lids or dividers. Use covers for storage only and remove before collection.
Extra/larger black rubbish bin Possible if 5+ people live in the house, medical condition creates more rubbish, or 2+ children are in nappies. Apply with proof if requested.
Approved extra capacity May be stickers, a 240-litre large bin, or an additional 140/180/240-litre bin. Expect case-by-case assessment and possible waste officer visit.
Approval condition: Somerset only authorises extra rubbish capacity when the household is making full use of weekly recycling and food waste collections.
Order replacement containers

Somerset recycling sites, permits and chargeable waste

Somerset has 16 recycling sites. Household waste disposal is generally free, but some materials, vehicle types and DIY waste need rules or charges.

Topic Somerset detail Action before travelling
Recycling sites 16 sites across Somerset with addresses, opening times and accepted materials online. Search your nearest site before loading the car.
Free household waste Entry is free and depositing household waste is free. Separate materials so unloading is quick.
DIY / construction waste Up to eight 50-litre sacks per month over up to 4 visits can be free; pre-booking is needed for DIY waste. Book first if taking asbestos, plasterboard, hardcore/rubble or large DIY loads.
Charged materials Charges apply for gas/oxygen bottles, tyres, vehicle parts, soil and some DIY materials. Bring payment card and check price before visiting.
Vans/trailers You may need a recycling site permit for certain vehicles or trailers. Apply before visiting; permits are not transferable.
Commercial waste Commercial waste cannot be deposited as household waste under a household permit. Use business waste route if the waste came from work or paid transport.
Permit warning: site operators can ask where waste came from and refuse use if they suspect commercial waste is being presented as household waste.
Find nearest recycling centre Apply for recycling site permit Check recycling site charges

Flats, HMOs and communal collections

Communal properties do not always follow the same container setup as kerbside houses. Your building layout and access matter.

Situation Somerset guidance Resident action
Block of flats, HMO or retirement development Communal collections are arranged around space, layout and vehicle access. Check building signs and ask landlord/manager first.
Shared recycling bins Facilities may include separate communal containers or mixed shared recycling bins. Use the correct labelled bin; do not bag recyclables unless instructed.
Food waste at communal sites Where space and access allow, food waste can be provided; changes are being introduced under Simpler Recycling. Watch for leaflet/letter and start date for your property.
Overflowing bin store Landlord, managing agent or property owner usually manages storage, access and cleaning. Report repeated overflow to building management first.
Large item in bin store Large items should not be left in communal bin stores. Reuse, recycling site, or paid bulky collection.
Shared-bin tip: flatten cardboard before putting it in a communal bin. One unflattened delivery box can fill a shared bin and cause overflow.
Communal collections guide

Assisted and clinical collections

These services exist for residents who need practical support or safe medical-waste collection.

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Assisted collection

Free help if health reasons mean you cannot carry containers to the kerbside. Reviewed periodically; cancel if no longer needed.

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Low-grade medical waste

Empty bedpans, incontinence pads, empty stoma bags and similar non-infectious waste can usually be double-bagged in household waste.

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Sharps and infectious waste

Needles, syringes and insulin pen needles must never go in household waste or Tiger bags. Use a sharps box and official clinical form.

Clinical waste type Correct route Important detail
Low-grade non-infectious waste Double-bag in household waste. Examples include incontinence pads and empty stoma bags.
Higher-volume non-infectious clinical waste Tiger bags. Somerset replaces Tiger bags at each collection.
Infectious waste Orange or hazard-labelled clinical waste bags. Get bags from your healthcare professional.
Sharps Sharps box. Somerset provides replacement boxes based on the form selection.
Business clinical waste Not collected by Somerset household service. Businesses must arrange their own collection.
Assisted, clinical and bulky collections

Weather, heat, wind and disruption rules

Bad weather changes what residents should do. Follow the current Somerset Council update, not last week’s routine.

Situation Somerset guidance Do this
Snow, ice or severe weather Collections may be delayed or suspended if roads are unsafe. Keep checking official updates and Waste Facebook page.
Missed due to weather Crews try to return as soon as conditions improve and may work late or Saturdays. Leave missed recycling out up to 4 calendar days and rubbish/garden waste up to 7 calendar days if advised.
Windy weather Squash and flatten items except glass and aerosols; stack boxes with locked food bin on top. Put out near 7am in a sheltered but visible place.
Excessive heat Collections may start from 6am. Put waste out by 6am or the night before if a heat alert is posted.
Flooding or heavy rain Routes and recycling sites may close at short notice. Check flood, road and Council service updates before travelling.
Food waste in hot weather: lock the food bin lid, use liners or newspaper, keep containers shaded where possible, and clean caddies regularly.
Waste services and weather Council service disruptions

Phone script, contact routes and official links

Use online forms first where possible. If your situation is unusual, have the right details ready before calling or contacting the Council.

Need Best route Have ready
Missed collection Official missed collection form after 7pm. Address, collection date, material/container, tag reason, and service request number if already reported.
Bulky unusual item Call 0300 123 2224 before booking. Item type, size, whether two people can lift it, and if reusable.
Permit help Email wasteservices@somerset.gov.uk for specific permit support. Name, address, phone, email, vehicle type and registration.
General Council contact Somerset Council contact page. Use the waste section first to avoid being routed back to online forms.

Missed collection script

Hello, I’m reporting a Somerset waste collection issue at [full address and postcode]. The missed item is [rubbish/recycling/food waste/garden waste]. It was out by 7am at the edge of the property, on the correct collection day, fully contained, and [there was/was not] a tag. The collection date was [date]. Can you confirm the correct next step?
Report missed collection Somerset Council contact us Our source verification policy How to use this website

Somerset Refuse Collection FAQs

How do I check my Somerset bin collection day?

Use Somerset Council’s official bins, recycling and waste hub or online collection-day calendar. Enter your exact property because dates, reroutes and communal arrangements can vary by address.

What time should I put my Somerset bins and boxes out?

Put containers at the edge of your property by 7am on collection day, no earlier than the night before. During excessive heat, Somerset may ask residents to put containers out by 6am or the night before.

How often is rubbish collected in Somerset?

For most Somerset households, non-recyclable rubbish in the black wheeled bin is collected every three weeks. Communal properties may have different arrangements.

How often is recycling collected in Somerset?

Somerset collects recycling and food waste every week for most households. Recycling should be sorted into the bright blue bag, Box 1, Box 2 and separate bags where required.

When can I report a missed collection in Somerset?

Report a missed collection after 7pm on your collection day, after checking that containers were out by 7am, on the correct day, with the right items and no tag. Missed rubbish or garden waste can be reported up to 5 working days later, and missed recycling up to 3 working days later.

Why was my Somerset recycling not collected?

Common reasons include wrong items, black sacks used for recycling, too much or unflattened cardboard, waste not fully contained, heavy containers, or a tag explaining a sorting problem.

How much is Somerset garden waste collection?

Somerset lists a wheeled garden waste bin subscription at £76.30 and a pack of ten garden waste sacks at £37.90, valid until 31 March 2027.

How much is Somerset bulky waste collection?

Somerset lists bulky waste collection at £82.60 for 1 to 3 bulky items, with £23.10 for each additional item up to a maximum of 5 items per collection.

Can I get a larger or extra rubbish bin in Somerset?

You can apply if five or more people live in the house, someone has a medical condition that creates more rubbish, or there are two or more children in nappies. Somerset may ask for proof and checks that recycling and food waste collections are being used properly.

Do I need a permit for Somerset recycling sites?

You may need a permit for certain vehicles or trailers. Household waste is generally free to deposit, but some materials such as gas bottles, tyres, soil and extra DIY waste can be charged.

Final practical advice

The easiest Somerset routine is: check the exact address, put the correct containers out by 7am, keep recycling separated, use food waste weekly, keep rubbish inside the black bin, and report missed collections only after the official checks.

If the waste does not fit normal collection, choose the right route: garden subscription, bulky collection, recycling site, assisted collection, clinical collection, extra capacity request or licensed waste carrier.

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