Somerset’s residents are invited to sign up to free, interactive online training with emergency responders and volunteer organisations throughout October, organised by the Somerset Prepared partnership.

The fourth annual Resilience event starts with live talks on Monday 4 October and aims to help communities become better prepared for emergencies as well as looking at wider preparedness measures that anyone can take.

Anyone who registers will receive an information pack, event pack and weekly emails signposting to videos and toolkits on a variety of subjects. Interactive training sessions with national training provider Communities Prepared are on offer, alongside live online presentations from emergency and community organisations, as well as national flood resilience expert Mary Dhonau.

Cllr David Hall, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Community Infrastructure, said: “Interactive events like this are an excellent way to raise awareness with local communities and individuals and help them to take vital steps in preparing for an incident, which could ultimately save lives.

“The sessions will cover a range of subjects from how to use social media in emergencies to food resilience and crime prevention.

“It’s a great opportunity for groups to hear from each other, share their experiences and ask the experts. The training workshops are focussed on topics we often see raised by communities, including recruiting volunteers, how to assess risk and insurance.”

As well as the online training, face-to-face events include an open evening for Langport and Huish Episcopi Flood Group, and Avon & Somerset Police beat surgeries around the county. Sessions will be led by a range of organisations including the Environment Agency, South West Ambulance Service Trust, Communities Prepared, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, Avon & Somerset Police, Somerset Rotary, Somerset Civil Contingencies Unit, Spark, and Community Council for Somerset.

Participants are encouraged to share their experiences throughout October by tweeting Somerset Prepared (@SomersetPrepare) and using the hashtag #ImSomersetPrepared

To attend this free event, people can register their interest and book training sessions on the Somerset Prepared website www.somersetprepared.org.uk.

 

The Round Britain Climate Challenge will be coming to Cannington on Thursday 29 July and Friday 20 July. Residents around Cannington might see Sacha Dench flying her paramotor. To find out more information about the challenge, visit https://www.conservation-without-borders.org/round-britain

Notice of Public Rights

All of Somerset’s 16 recycling sites switch to their summer timetables from Thursday 1 April – but for essential journeys only to start with.

When open weekdays, they will continue to start at 9am but close an hour later, at 6pm. Year-round Saturday and Sunday hours remain 9am-4pm at all 16 sites.

In line with government guidance, Somerset Waste Partnership is still advising residents to only make trips if they really have to, for example because waste at home is causing some kind of risk.

This advice will be reviewed as part of the national lifting of lockdown restrictions but will not change until 12 April at the earliest. On-site safety precautions continue including social distancing, no staff assistance with unloading, gloves must be worn.

Members of the public are asked to consider wearing a mask.

Please check government restrictions on travel and Somerset Waste Partnership safety measures before making a visit somersetwaste.gov.uk/allatall/

Latest site details including opening days can be found at somersetwaste.gov.uk/recycling/centres

With an impressive average recycling rate of well over 75%, Somerset’s recycle site network is open every day of the year except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day to take dozens of materials.

Winter hours – 9am-5pm when sites are open weekdays – resume on Friday 1 October 2021.

To keep up to date with waste services, sign up for the SWP e-newsletter at somersetwaste.gov.uk or follow somersetwaste on Facebook or Twitter.

All change for Easter waste

 

Every household in Somerset will have Easter waste collection day changes but recycle sites will stay open, Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) has announced.

With no pick-ups on Good Friday 2 April, these will take place a day later on Saturday 3 April.

No collections on Easter Monday 5 April mean that all the week’s kerbside services will be one day later, including Friday pick-ups on Saturday 10 April.

All 16 recycle sites remain on their summer schedules, open for essential visits with required safety measures and government restrictions.

On Good Friday 2 April, 10 sites will open 9am to 6pm: Bridgwater, Chard, Frome, Highbridge, Minehead, Somerton, Taunton, Wellington, Wells, Yeovil.

All 16 sites will open 9am to 4pm on both Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday.

And 12 sites will open 9am to 6pm on Easter Monday: Bridgwater, Castle Cary, Chard, Cheddar, Crewkerne, Frome, Minehead, Street, Taunton, Wells, Williton, Yeovil.

To keep up to date with waste services, sign up for the SWP e-newsletter at somersetwaste.gov.uk or follow somersetwaste on Facebook or Twitter.

 

Press release from Somerset Waste Partnership

 

Families getting to grips with Covid self-test kits are being asked to make sure they dispose of them correctly.

Secondary schools across the county and country are providing the home Lateral Flow Testing kits for pupils, though exactly when and how may vary from school to school.

And as the kits come home, Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) is highlighting the Government guidance on disposing of them – once used, kit contents should go straight into standard rubbish bins.

Whether the result is positive or negative, the used items from each test – including the testing strip, swab and extraction tube – should be put in the small plastic bag that comes with the pack. This bag should then go straight into your normal rubbish bin.

The kits are not considered clinical waste requiring a special collection, nor should they be recycled.

If a test result is positive, as well as following the reporting instructions included in the test kits, people should make sure they then treat their personal waste appropriately.

The advice for any household with a confirmed Covid case or any symptoms is that tissues, disposable cleaning cloths, masks and gloves should be double-bagged and kept separate from other waste for 72 hours before going into your usual rubbish outside your house.

Full guidance on disposing of waste during Covid can be found online Coronavirus (COVID-19): disposing of waste – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

In a household without any Covid cases or symptoms, if you need to throw away used face coverings or PPE, such as gloves, put them in your ‘black bag’ waste (or a litter bin if you are outside).

Do not put them into recycling as they cannot be recycled through conventional recycling facilities. You do not need to put them in an extra bag or store them before throwing them away.

Cloth face coverings should be washed and reused to prevent and reduce waste.