EXPANDED recycling collections in Mendip and South Somerset have delivered thousands of extra tonnes of recycling, councillors have been told.

Best estimates are that in the 52 weeks since it launched last October, Recycle More has collected more than 5,600 tonnes of extra recycling, including more than 1,000 extra tonnes of plastic.

In South Somerset, over its first 18 weeks the extra recycling is an estimated 1,800 tonnes, including nearly 500 extra tonnes of extra plastic.

Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) shared the figures at a meeting of the Waste Scrutiny Panel yesterday (Wednesday, October 8) as part of an update on the roll-out of the new service.

Welcoming the estimates, SWP managing director Mickey Green said the picture has been complicated by Covid, but Recycle More is clearly making a big difference.

He said: “Residents are really making use of it and recycling has increased dramatically.

"That’s great news for the environment and promises significant long-term benefits.”

After being launched in Mendip in October 2020 and South Somerset in June 2021, Recycle More was launched in the Taunton Deane area at the end of October this year.

The first five weeks have seen the service bedding in well, the panel heard, and preparation is underway for the introducing it to Sedgemoor and West Somerset in early 2022.

Recycle More adds more to weekly recycling collections – notable plastic pots, tubs and trays.

With more recycling collected each week, rubbish is collected every three weeks instead of every two.