An additional 25,000 households, including those in Wells, will soon be able to recycle flexible plastics at the kerbside as part of an extended trial in Somerset.

Flexible plastics – such as bread bags, cheese wrappers, and salad bags – are notoriously difficult to recycle, though they make up a significant portion of household waste.

Since May 2023, Somerset has been running a small-scale trial in the north and north-eastern parts of Frome, involving 3,600 households. The scheme has been hailed a success, with impressive results reported by Somerset Council's climate and place scrutiny committee in January.

Following this success, the trial is now being extended to include households in and around Wells, as well as Chilcompton, Draycott, and Frome. Residents in the expanded trial will receive blue collection bags along with guidance on how to participate.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, said: "Somerset residents have once again shown their enthusiasm to keep our county green and more sustainable. The success of phase one means that we can collect and recycle plastic bags and wrapping from thousands more people."

Frome's participation in the trial has seen the collection of 27 tonnes of soft plastics – roughly 95,000 collection bags – over the past year. The scheme allows for a wide range of materials to be recycled, including carrier bags, crisp packets, cling film, and food wrappers, which previously could only be recycled at supermarket collection points.

The collected plastics will be part of the regular weekly recycling collections, with participating households using the provided plastic sacks.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) aims for all local authorities to implement flexible plastics recycling by March 2027.

Households in Wells should look out for their collection bags arriving soon. If no information is received, then the household is not part of the trial at this time.