Somerset Council's newest recycling tracker shows a sharper focus on local processing — and a steep fall in landfill use across the county.

The report reveals that 5.4 % more recycling was processed within Somerset compared to the year before. Meanwhile, 99 % of plastics collected were recycled within the UK. The total volume of waste recycled or reused locally rose by 2.5 %, and waste sent to landfill plunged by more than 57 %.

In 2024‑25, Somerset collected 148,813 tonnes of recycling with a 55.45 % recycling rate. Of that, 87.5 % was reprocessed in the UK, and 56.5 % stayed within Somerset. Meanwhile, only 2,354 tonnes of waste went to landfill.

Cllr Richard Wilkins, Lead Member for Transport and Waste Services, said the data reinforces residents' trust by showing exactly what happens to their recycling — and underlines the importance of processing closer to home.

The figures come during Recycling Week 2025 (22–28 September), aligned with the national "Rescue Me! Recycle" campaign. This year highlights three everyday items often discarded incorrectly: shampoo bottles, foil, and toothpaste tubes — the latter now recyclable in some kerbside collections in Somerset through new technical advances.

By publishing this detailed end-to-end breakdown, the Council aims to reassure residents that recycling is handled legitimately — no burning, dumping, or ocean disposal. The recycled materials are transformed into a wide range of products such as cardboard, plastic pipes, soil conditioners, and car parts.

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