A TRIAL which has seen households able to leave plastic bags and wrapping out for collection has seen more than 50 tonnes of waste recycled.

Somerset Council is one of 10 taking part in the national, Government-backed FlexCollect trial, which has been running in the Frome area.

The latest figures show 51 tonnes of bags and wrapping have been collected, the equivalent of around 217,000 15-litre bags full of plastic bags and wrapping which may otherwise have been binned.

Around 26,000 residents in the east of the county are involved in the trial, which sees the plastic packaging collected for recycling with residents’ weekly kerbside collections.

Residents are asked to fill bags with packaging including crisp packets, bread bags and plastic netting.

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Cllr Richard Wilkins, lead member for transport and waste, said: “It has been great to be part of this trial. We know our residents take recycling seriously and we can help to prove the worthiness of collecting these materials for recycling.

“It’s been truly incredible to see how much has been collected. Somerset residents are always forward thinking and ahead of the curve when it comes to sustainability and keeping our county clean.”

Matthew Canning, contract director at SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, said: “Collecting 51 tonnes of flexible packaging highlights the potential for diverting more waste into recycling and moving towards a more circular economy.

“The engagement from residents has been really encouraging. We are really proud to be part of this pioneering initiative and look forward to continuing this trial.”

As part of the Government’s new Simpler Recycling law, collection of plastic bags and wrapping will be expanded across the county, with all households in the UK to be offered the service by April 2027.

The recycled plastic bags and wrapping can be used to make a range of new products, such as packaging, bags for life, boxes, bins, and agricultural and construction materials.

Residents who are not part of the trial can take their plastic bags and wrapping to recycling points, often found in supermarkets.