Dentons started in Bath over 50 years ago producing local directories of businesses by town. We have continued to develop and now produce local guides for residents of those towns and cities.
All of our products are free to the user – printed book, website or mobile app. With the Dentons app on your phone you are always able to find the nearest facility to you at that time. Uniquely Dentons includes community contact details too so you can also find the nearest non-commercial enterprises.
Find out more at www.dentons.net, install our mobile app.
To view this document as pdf a 
click here.
A Guide to Recycling in Somerset 2018
We have compiled a list of recycling sources in the Somerset area including council services, local and national charities and links to recycling guides.
The council offers a weekly collection for your food and recycling bins and a fortnightly service for your refuse bin. Collections should be kerbside by 7am on the appropriate day to ensure the bin is emptied. Please leave the pavement clear for pedestrians and retrieve your bin as soon as possible after the collection.
Using this link you can search the council website for your collections date.
What can you recycle?
Somerset County Council has collection schemes for many products & offers recycling services for many more through the Recycling Centres (RC) across the county. Due to what happens to the material after you have recycled them there may be certain criteria for some types of materials within these headings.
[easytable]Aerosols_Aluminium foil_Asbestos
Batteries_Bedding_Beds
Bicycles_Books_Bottles & Jars
Bottle tops_Bubble wrap_Bulky waste
Cans_Cardboard_Carpet
Cartons_CDs_Christmas trees
Clothing_Cooking oil_DVDs
Egg boxes_Electrical items_Envelopes
Fire extinguishers_Foil_Food waste
[/easytable]
[easytable]
Fridges & freezers_Furniture_Garden tools
Garden waste_Gas appliances_Gas cylinders
Glass bottles & jars_Glass sheets/windows_Grass cuttings
Greeting cards_Hardcore & rubble_Ink cartridges
Juice cartons_Junk mail_Kitchen roll
Leaves_Light bulbs (some)_Mattresses
Medical aids_Metal items_Mobile phones
Monitors_Newspapers_Oils
Paint_Pallets_Paper napkins
Plasterboard_Plastic bottles_Printer cartridges
[/easytable]
Quilts_Radiators_Refrigerators
Rubble_Shoes_Shredded paper
Soil_Spectacles_Storage heater
Straw or sawdust_Telephone directories_TetraPak
Textiles_Tin foil_Toner cartridges
Toys_TV screens_Tyres
Vegetable peelings_Video cassettes_Wall paper
Weeds_Window frames_Wood
Woolly jumpers
[/easytable]Read on to understand how to recycle the various items using the kerbside schemes and Recycling Centres (RC).
Green Box (Box 1)
What can you put in your green box?
- Paper – newspapers, magazines, leaflets, directories, white envelopes and other white paper.
- Glass bottles & jars – rinsed and unbroken. Foil – please bag.
NB – Foil is not accepted if it is plastic backed – scrunch up your foil and if it stays scrunched it can be recycled.
What can’t you put in your green box?
- Broken glass, glass tableware & glass cookware.
- Foil that fails the scrunch test.
These items can often be recycled at your local Recycling Centre (RC)
Always wash your hands after handling any waste materials.
Black Bin (Box 2)
What can you put in your black box?
- Food & drink cans – washed & squashed.
- Aerosols.
- Plastic bottles – washed & squashed – no lids.
- Cardboard – all types, flattened.
- Textiles – clothes, curtains, towels, blankets, sheets, throws, paired shoes tied together.
(put alongside the box in a plastic carrier bags labelled TEXTILES. This will ensure they stay dry.) - Car batteries – one per collection.
What can’t you put in your black box?
- Any plastic tops from bottles, aerosols, etc.
- Plastic trays, tubs & pots.
- Plastic film.
- Textiles – stuffed bedding, eg pillows & duvets
These items can often be recycled at your local Recycling Centre (RC)
Always wash your hands after handling any waste materials.
Food Waste Bin
A special food waste bin with a lockable lid is provided along with a kitchen caddy to households in Somerset. 
Please line your bins with newspaper or a food waste bin liner with a compostable logo like this. The bags marked biodegradable are not suitable as they do not degrade as fast.
The external bin contents will be collected weekly, please use your kitchen caddy and transfer the contents to the main food waste bin regularly. Pull the handle forward to lock the lid so that animals & pests do not interfere with it. To unlock the bin push the handle backwards.
What can you put in your food waste box?
All cooked & raw food waste, including:
- Meat and fish – including bones and carcasses that fit in your caddy.
- Fruit & vegetables.
- Cheese & eggs.
- Bread, pasta & cereal.
- Tea bags & coffee grounds – including coffee filter paper.
- Paper kitchen towel & napkins.
What can’t you put in your food waste box?
- Food packaging
- Plastic bags
- Garden waste
- Household waste
Wash hands and surfaces after handling food and store it away from heat with the lid closed.
Garden Waste Collections
The council offers a fortnightly collection of garden waste. Any householder who wants to use this service must contact their district or borough council and pay for a green wheelie bin (£46.50 per year) or compostable paper sacks (£25.00 for 10).
Collections are generally made on the alternate week to the refuse collection. No collection is made over the Christmas & New Year period & collections are suspended in periods of severe weather.
Download a garden waste collection calendar.
What can you put in your garden waste bin or bag?
- Flowers, plants and garden weeds
- Grass cuttings, leaves and hedge trimmings
- Small branches (less than 10cm or 4 inches width
- Straw or sawdust (if bedding material, then only from vegetarian pets, such as rabbits, but not micro-pigs or racing pigeons)
What can’t you put in your garden waste bin or bag?
- Plastic bags
- Flower pots
- Kitchen food waste
- Cat litter
- Dog poo
- Stones
- Rubble
- Soil
- Large branches or logs>
- Japanese Knotweed>
- Common Ragwort
Garden waste is composted and available to purchase from your local Recycling Centre (RC).
Home composting is more environmentally beneficial and a cheaper option for you. If you maintain a healthy garden ot allotment, the composted waste can be re-used in your own garden and will replenish the soil’s nutrients.
The Council has negotiated special deals for home composting bins – the latest offer is shown here.
If you would like to make your own composter, here are some ideas.
What can you home compost?
- tea bags
- coffee grounds
- vegetable and fruit peelings
- crushed egg shells
- scrunched up newspaper
- grass cuttings
- weeds
- cardboard
- egg boxes
- toilet rolls
Good compost is made with a mixture of all of these items, the cardboard will break down and create much needed air pockets. The compost will need to be kept wet enough – use the peelings and grass cuttings for this or add some water and turn it in with a fork. If the compost gets too wet it will smell so you will need to top it up with twigs, dry leaves or more cardboard and turn it over with a fork. Composting can take between 6 and 18 months.
What can I do with recyclable waste not collected by Somerset Council?
There are 16 recycling points across the county. Here you can dispose of any item that could go in the kerbside collecting scheme plus a wide range of other materials including:
[easytable]Aerosols_Aluminium foil_Asbestos
Batteries_Bedding_Beds
Bicycles_Books_Bottles & Jars
Bottle tops_Bubble wrap_Bulky waste
Cans_Cardboard_Carpet
Cartons_CDs_Christmas trees
Clothing_Cooking oil_DVDs
[/easytable]
Egg boxes_Electrical items_Envelopes
Fire extinguishers *_Foil_Food waste
Fridges & freezers_Furniture_Garden tools
Garden waste_Gas appliances_Gas cylinders *
Glass bottles & jars_Glass sheets/windows_Grass cuttings
[/easytable]
Greeting cards_Hardcore & rubble *_Ink cartridges
Juice cartons_Junk mail_Kitchen roll
Leaves_Light bulbs (some)_Mattresses
Medical aids_Metal items_Mobile phones
Monitors_Newspapers_Oils
Paint_Pallets_Paper napkins
Plasterboard_Plastic bottles_Printer cartridges
Quilts_Radiators_Refrigerators
Rubble_Shoes_Shredded paper
Soil *_Spectacles_Storage heaters
Straw or sawdust_Telephone directories_TetraPak
[/easytable]
Textiles_Tin foil_Toner cartridges
Toys_TV screens_Tyres *
Vegetable peelings_Video cassettes_Wall paper
Weeds_Window frames_Wood
Woolly jumpers
[/easytable]* Charges apply for the disposal if these items.
Recycling Centres
There are 16 recycling points across the county including 2 Community Recycling Sites where a £2 charge is made, the Recycling Centres are free to enter.
[easytable]Bridgwater RC_Saltlands Avenue, Chilton Trinity_TA6 3JG – 01278 444877
Castle Cary RC_ Dimmer Lane_BA7 7NR – 01963 351725
Chard RC_Beeching Close_TA20 1BB – 01460 65855
Cheddar RC_Wedmore Road_BS27 3EB – 01934 744916
Crewkerne CRS_Blacknell Lane Ind.Est._TA18 7HE – 01460 78284
Dulcote RC_Dulcote Hill_BA5 3PZ – 01749 670973
Dulverton CRS_Brushford Road_TA22 9AA – 01398 323615
Frome RC_Manor Furlong, Manor Road_BA11 4RN – 01373 453622
[/easytable]
[easytable]
Highbridge RC_Isleport Business Park, Bennett Road_TA9 4PW – 01278 784419
Minehead RC_Mart Road Ind. Est._TA24 5BJ – 01643 707894
Somerton RC_Bancombe Road Ind. Est._TA11 6SB – 01458 274643
Street RC_Farm Lane (A39)_BA16 9PB – 01458 840076
Taunton RC_Crown Ind. Est., Priorswood_TA2 8QY – 01823 338615
Wellington RC_Poole Brickworks, Nynehead_TA21 9HW – 01823 661617
Williton RC_Roughmoor Ind. Est._TA4 4RA – 01984 632221
Yeovil RC_Artillery Road, Lufton Trading Est._BA22 8RP – 01935 4111
[/easytable]NB The centres at Coleford and Middlezoy closed in April 2014.
The opening hours for the centres vary across the county, check below to see if a centre near you is open when you need it.
[easytable]
_Mon_Tues_Wed_Thurs_Fri_Sat_Sun
Bridgwater_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm
Castle Cary_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_CLOSED_CLOSED_8am-4pm_8am-4pm
Chard_8am-4pm_CLOSED_CLOSED_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm
Cheddar_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_CLOSED_CLOSED_8am-4pm_8am-4pm
Crewkerne_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_CLOSED_CLOSED_8am-4pm_8am-4pm
Dulcote_8am-4pm_CLOSED_CLOSED_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm
Dulverton_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_CLOSED_CLOSED_8am-4pm_8am-4pm
Frome_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm
Highbridge_8am-4pm_CLOSED_CLOSED_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm
Minehead_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm
Somerton_8am-4pm_CLOSED_CLOSED_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm
Street_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_CLOSED_CLOSED_8am-4pm_8am-4pm
Taunton_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm
Wellington_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_CLOSED_CLOSED_8am-4pm_8am-4pm
Williton_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_CLOSED_CLOSED_8am-4pm_8am-4pm
Yeovil_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm_8am-4pm
[/easytable]All centres are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day
What about large items I can’t transport to the Recycling Centres?
The council will collect some other items for a small charge; this includes furniture, fridges, washing machines, etc. If the item is re-useable you could use one of the recycling charities listed later; they will also collect the item and use it in households that need support.
To check the most suitable way to recycle your large items or arrange a collection please contact your district or borough council and make the necessary payment.
Mendip District Council
- Shepton Mallet
- 0300 303 8588
Sedgemoor District Council
- Bridgwater
- 0845 408 2543
Somerset County Council
- Taunton
- 0845 345 9188
South Somerset District Council
- Yeovil
- 01935 462462
Taunton Deane Borough Council
- Taunton
- 01823 356346
West Somerset Council
- Williton
- 01643 703704
Somerset Waste Partnership
- Taunton
- 01823 625700
Large Waste Charges
Number of items 2014 Costs Each extra item
One to three items £38.15 £8.35
NB. There is a maximum of 5 items per collection
What happens to the recycling once it is collected?
[easytable]Item_End product
Aluminium Cans_New cans
Batteries_Broken down into elements & re-used in manufacturing
Cardboard_New cardboard
Electrical items_Separated into components for re-use in manufacturing
Foil_Smelted into ingots for new aluminium products
Food & Drink Cartons_Separated into Paper, Foil & Plastic and used as listed
Food Waste_Compost or anaerobically digested to biofuels
Fridges & Freezers_Separated into components for re-use in manufacturing
Garden Waste_Composted and available to purchase at Recycling Centres
Glass Bottles & Jars_New glass products
Light Bulbs _Separated into components for re-use in manufacturing. Mercury is re-used in new light bulbs
Oils_Blended & reused as alternative fuel
Paper_New newspaper
Plastic Bottles_Sorted by type & used in new fleece jackets, compost bins, films & pipes
Shoes_Sent to developing countries for re-use
Steel cans_New steel products
Textiles_Sorted & if suitable sent to developing counties. Other textiles are shredded for industrial cloths & rags
You can watch the videos on the Somerset County Council website to find out more about how we collect, sort & regenerate items from the waste.
What can I do with items that I can’t dispose of via Somerset services?
If you want to dispose of items that the council will not take – there are charities and organisations across the county that may take such items.
Furniture, working electrical goods and white goods
Somerset Reuse Groups
The district and borough councils all have schemes to collect and reuse furniture and white goods that are no longer wanted. Some of the organisations only offer the reuse to low income familes while others have a differing price structure so enable them to sell to all households.
Please only donate working equipment and complete furniture. Minor repairs can sometimes be carried out.
Mendip District Council
- Twice as Nice – Shepton Mallet – 01749 347115
- FurnEquip – Glastonbury – 01458 831188
Sedgemoor District Council
- Sedgemoor Furniture Store – Bridgwater – 01278 425055
South Somerset District Council
- FurniCare – Yeovil – 01935 433416
Taunton Deane Borough Council
- FurniTrust – Taunton – 01823 253053
West Somerset Council
- Engage Furniture Reuse Project – Alcombe – 01643 70748
St Margaret’s Hospice
St Margaret’s Hospice operates from its original site in Taunton and has extended its services to a new dedicated site in Yeovil. As with all hospices the service provided is that of palliative care & support service with advise and nursing available to those with terminal and life limiting health issues.
There are furniture shops in Crewkerne, Taunton, Wincanton and Yeovil and the hospice offers a collection and delivery service.
St Margaret’s House runs 28 charity shops in the area selling donated goods. Also on sale seasonally are Christmas cards, calendars, diaries and a small selection of new goods. Bring all your good quality clothes, books, china, bric-a-brac, toys and jewellery to your local shop where donations are always welcome.
British Heart Foundation
Alongside their general charity shops, British Heart Foundation have 150 stores nationwide that sell good quality used furniture and electrical items. A free collection service is offered for most items.
Local furniture and electrical stores are found in Taunton, Weston super Mare and Yeovil.
Metal
Small amounts of metal must be removed to the RC and will not be collected by the council. Local companies offering removal services generally require you to hire a skip. Check with the company if the skip is to be filled with mixed materials or specific ones when you arrange the hire.
Larger items of scrap metal can be dealt with by scrap metal merchants or the Scrap Car Network.
Charity Shops
You can also donate directly to charity shops, search Dentons for a list of your local charity shops. Below is a list for the main cities and towns in the Somerset area:
- Bridgwater
- Burnham on Sea
- Chard
- Cheddar
- Clevedon
- Crewkerne
- Frome
- Glastonbury
- Midsomer Norton
- Minehead
- Nailsea
- Shepton Mallet
- Street
- Taunton
- Wellington
- Wells
- Weston super Mare
- Wincanton
- Yeovil
Recycling Networks and Websites
Freecycle
The worldwide Freecycle Network is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It’s a grassroots movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns.
Freecycle groups match people who have things they want to get rid of with people who can use them with a goal to keep usable items out of landfills. By using what we already have on this earth, we reduce consumerism, manufacture fewer goods, and lessen the impact on the earth. Another benefit of using Freecycle is that it encourages us to get rid of junk that we no longer need and promote community involvement in the process.
Furniture Re-Use Network
The Furniture Re-use Network, which supports over 300 re-use charities, aims to relieve poverty and reduce waste by promoting the re-use of essential household furniture and electrical appliances to help people in need.
IT for Charities
Donate your old PCs and IT equipment to charity.
Scrap Car Network
The Scrap Car Network is a charity network that removes old vehicles and uses the cash to help the homeless.
Ink Cartridges, Laser Toners and Mobile Phone Recycling for Charity
The recycling factory is a charity portal that allows you to recycle ink cartridges, laser toners and mobile phones for charity.
Recycling for Schools
Recycling for Schools takes mobile phones and ink cartridges. Your school will have to create an account and publicise the benefits to all the pupils.
Recycling Guides
Friends of the Earth Recycling Guide
A great free guide from Friends of the Earth about recycling.
Which Magazine Recycling Guide
Which magazines free guide to recycling
Recycling Guides Network
The Recycling Guide Network offers free guides and information on how to recycle for homes, schools and businesses.
RecycleNow
RecycleNow offers online free guides, information and videos about what to recycle and how it is reused.
Know your symbols
General Recycle and Re-use symbols
Download these symbols as a pdf.
You’re sure to recognise some of these common recycling symbols, but do you know the meaning of them all?
[easytable]
_ALUMINIUM_This symbol indicates that the product is made from recyclable aluminium.
_COMPOSTABLE_This is a Europe wide symbol confirming the product is industrially compostable. Take to your RC.
_EUROPEAN ECOLABEL_A European symbol that shows the product has been produced in an environmentally friendly manner.
_GLASS_Please put this recyclable glass container in a bottle bank.
_GREEN DOT_In participating countries this means the manufacturer is funding a recycling program for products with this label. The UK isn’t a participating country.
_METALS_Please put recyclable metals into the skip at the RC.
_MOBIUS LOOP_This indicates whether the product can be recycled.
_MOBIUS LOOP WITH PERCENTAGE_This indicates how much of the product is made from recycled materials.
_PAPER_Products bearing this logo have already been recycled. The product must contain at least 50% waste paper or board not generated as mill waste. The figure shown is how much recycled material is used.
_TIDY MAN_Implies that you should dispose of the product carefully, do not litter.
_WEEE DIRECTIVE_Shows that a product can be recycled separately from other household waste under the WEEE directive.
_WOOD_This logo identifies products containing wood from well managed forests.
Plastic recycling symbols
These symbols identify the type of plastic used in identify the type of plastic used in a packaging.
Polyethylene Terepthalate found in Soft drink bottles & Cooking oil bottles – recycled into Pillow stuffing & Carpets.
High Density Polyethylene found in Milk bottles, Shampoo bottles & Yogurt containers – recycled into Playground equipment & bottles.
PVC found in Water bottles & Detergent bottles – recycled into Floor tiles, Bubble wrap & Traffic cones.
Low Density Polyethylene found in Grocery bags, Dry cleaning bags & Frozen food bags – recycled into Compost liners & Rubbish bin liners.
Polypropylene found in Ketchup bottles, Syrup bottles, Lunch boxes & Dairy food containers – recycled into Pipes, Pegs, Battery cases & Trays.
Polystyrene found in Foam cups & plates, Food trays & packaging – recycled into Egg cartons, Coat hangers & Stationery trays.
All other plastics and multi-materials found in Safety glasses & Car lights – recycled into Outdoor signs & Car parts.