Burnham-On-Sea residents have been reminded that rubbish collection days are running a day later this week due to the Easter holidays.
No pick-ups of recycling and rubbish took place on Easter Monday 13th April, so all the week’s kerbside services are going ahead one day later, including Friday pick-ups on Saturday 18th April.
Recycling sites across Somerset – including Highbridge’s Isleport Recycling Centre – remain closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, while garden waste and bulky waste services are also suspended.
Somerset Waste Partnership says that “dozens of staff” have been forced to self-isolate, so this means there are several changes to waste services:
- All weekly recycling collections as usual but there are no returns for missed pick-ups. Boxes and food waste bins should be put out the following week, when those collections will be a priority.
- Rubbish and clinical waste pick-ups as usual. If either are missed, report via the My Waste Services menu at www.somersetwaste.gov.uk or through council customer services – details: https://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/contact-us/.
- Garden waste collections are suspended but 2020-21 subscribers will get a one year extension from the date when collections restart
- Bulky waste collections are suspended.
- No new container requests can be accepted.
- All recycling sites remain closed. Materials should be stored and not added to rubbish, especially those that could be a fire risk, such as batteries, gas canisters and electrical items.
Residents are urged to help crews work faster and more efficiently to complete their rounds with simple steps:
- Sort and segregate materials without using carrier bags in recycling boxes.
- Rinse containers and, if safe, flatten or squash everything except glass and aerosols.
- Get boxes and bins out by 7am on collection day and leave out late so crews can reach as many homes as possible.
- Park carefully so waste trucks – and fire engines and ambulances – can get through.
Vital waste safety advice for residents includes:
- Take care when handling waste, including washing hands before and after putting out recycling and rubbish for collection.
- Put no tissues, cleaning cloths or plastic/latex gloves in recycling.
- If they have Coronavirus symptoms or are in a household with someone showing symptoms, they should double bag tissues, gloves and disposable cleaning cloths, keep these bags separate from other waste for at least 72 hours in their home, and then add the bags to their rubbish.
A Somerset Waste Partnership spokesman told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “As we work hard to maintain and improve services in the face of this pandemic, our dedicated crews are doing a fantastic job while dozens of their colleagues are forced to self-isolate.”
“And the crews are getting great support from residents – we all appreciate their patience and their efforts to ensure recycling is well presented and out on time.”
