Taunton Recycling Centre to remain shut next week
Somerset Council have confirmed the site will remain closed after structural engineers say a building will first have to be demolished
It's been confirmed a recycling site which was hit by a major fire more than a fortnight ago won't reopen next week.
Somerset Council say the centre in Taunton remains closed as structural engineers say a building there will have to be demolished, first.
The Material Recovery Facility is now on the list to come down before the public part of the site can be safely reopened.
Biffa, which owns and manages the site on behalf of Somerset Council, has instructed a demolition company to carry out the work which is expected to begin before the end of October. It is not yet known how long the work will take.
Bridgwater and Wellington's recycling sites will stay open seven days a week in the meantime.
The local authority say the Wellington and Bridgwater recycling sites saw a 'large influx' of visitors last weekend because of the disruption, and are advising people who want to dispose of their rubbish to head there on the weekdays instead, if possible.
They add Wellington is particularly busy on a Wednesday, so residents are advised to use the Bridgwater site if practical and avoid Wednesday in Wellington.
Kerbside collections are not affected by the closure and residents should continue to put their refuse and recycling out as usual.
If you would usually use the Taunton recycling site in the Priorswood area, you are asked by Somerset Council to either:
- Hold on to recycling if it can wait
- Put it in the kerbside recycling if it is the right kind of material
- Try one of the council’s other 15 sites if it is waste that urgently needs to go
This disruption follows a major fire earlier this month - the cause of which is still not yet known.
The emergency services were to the site in Priorswood in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday 3 October.
At the height of the blaze, up to 60 firefighters and seven appliances were involved.
Somerset Council has 16 recycling sites across the county which are managed by Biffa on the Council’s behalf.
Staff from Taunton have been redeployed to provide the extra opening in Wellington and Bridgwater.