Frome Town Councillor Nick Dove with overflowing bins in the town. Picture: FTC

Overflowing bins in Frome “isn’t good enough” amid contract changeover

Paul JonesFebruary 26, 20250 Comment0

SOME bins in Frome are spilling with ‘litter building up on the streets’ due to ‘disruption’ amid changes to collections.

Frome Town Council (FTC) said residents and businesses have grown frustrated with “bins left unemptied and litter building up on the streets”.

“Somerset Council is responsible for emptying town centre bins via a contractor and is transitioning to a new way of working from June 2025, causing some temporary disruption,” an FTC spokesperson said.

They said town councillors are working with the Somerset Council to improve the service, as well as implementing improvements to street cleansing and weeding.

“The council has purchased a new motorised street sweeper, which will remove litter and weeds on a rotating basis every two weeks, to keep Frome looking its best and encourage tourism,” they added.

The move comes after a town centre ranger was recruited last year, who tackles weeds and issues with street furniture in the town.

Frome Town Councillor Nick Dove said: “Keeping Frome clean and welcoming is a priority: I speak about it almost every council meeting.

“Rubbish and dog poo bins overflowing and streets that haven’t been swept for months are not a good look – it just isn’t good enough.

“We know residents and businesses share our frustration when bins are left overflowing and there is rubbish in our streets, and understandably they’re looking to us as their town council to help.

“Somerset Council’s contract with ID Verde is coming to an end, and we appreciate that their workers are in a difficult position, but the truth is that this contract has not been fit for purpose for a long time.

“While we wait for Somerset Council’s new system to bed in, FTC have taken the proactive step of recruiting a town centre ranger to help keep the centre clean and tidy, and a new mechanical street sweeper that will tackle weeds and rubbish in our streets, as part of a regular cleaning schedule, making a real difference to the look and feel of our streets.

“In addition there has to be a sensible, cost effective way in which any new arrangement to remove rubbish will include commercial waste which blights the town centre.

“A daily collection of this rubbish from our town centre businesses would make an enormous difference to the look of the town.”

Frome Town Council will continue to monitor the situation and work with Somerset Council to find long-term solutions that maintain a high standard of cleanliness in the town, the council added.

Residents with concerns about bin collections and street cleaning should contact Somerset Council via their neighbourhood services email, at neighbourhoodservices@somerset.gov.uk.