New figures released by Somerset Council in line with national Recycling Week reveal that nearly half of what's in the average Wells household bin could be recycled. There's been an 11% improvement since 2018 but room for more progress remains, particularly in the area of food waste.

The comprehensive study included waste analysis from 550 households across the county, with samples taken from Wells. The results show that 48% of waste is recyclable, encouraging residents to rethink their waste habits.

Here's a breakdown of the types of recyclable waste:

• 14% kerbside recyclable materials like cardboard or cans
• 21% food waste for the food waste bin
• 7% garden waste and pet bedding
• 7% materials that can be taken to a recycling site, such as wood and metal

Cllr Dixie Darch, lead member for climate and the environment at Somerset Council, commented: "Most people in Somerset are recycling and we know that people are recycling more than they ever have. Our kerbside collections mean that most of our waste can be recycled from home. We're making good progress but there is always more we can do, particularly when it comes to recycling – or even better – reducing food waste."