Thanks for your patience during collection delays

Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

We’re sorry if your collections are taking longer than usual - we’re working hard behind the scenes to get the service back to normal as quickly as possible.  

Services are expected to return to normal from September.  

The problems have been caused by a national shortage of HGV drivers, along with the usual summer pressures. 

We’re working to bring in temporary drivers through agency support but recruitment remains a challenge. 

Anyone with an HGV licence who can help is welcome to get in touch. Please fill in the contact form on our website or call North Somerset Environment Company on 07917 092 785.

Please continue to leave your recycling and garden waste out on your usual collection day. 

Sorting your recycling and flattening and breaking down cardboard will help crews collect quickly and safely. 

If you don’t receive a collection on your usual day, we’ll collect it the next day. 

Black bin waste collections continue as normal. 

To help ease pressure, crews are working on Saturdays and smaller vehicles, including vans, are being used alongside the usual vehicles to help catch up as much as possible.  

The easiest way to check your day and get updates is by downloading our free North Somerset Council app.

Get it from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

If you are signed up to receive notifications and your property could be affected by delays, you’ll receive a notification on the app. 

A daily report will also be published on our website showing which roads are affected.

A summary of frequently asked questions about the driver disruption can also be found on our website.

A new online booking system is being introduced at North Somerset’s three recycling centres this autumn to reduce queues and make visits easier 

You’ll soon be able to plan your visits in advance to Weston-super-Mare, Backwell and Portishead recycling centres using the new system, which aims to make visits faster, safer and more efficient.  

The simple booking system will be rolled out in stages, starting with Weston-super-Mare, followed by Backwell and Portishead.  

The system is also expected to bring environmental and financial benefits, by cutting carbon emissions from idling vehicles, reducing unauthorised use by people from outside the area, and ensuring commercial and DIY waste is managed correctly. 

Essential repairs are needed at Weston-super-Mare’s recycling centre later this year so a booking system will help manage the site safely and keep queues to a minimum during this period.  

Neighbouring authorities already have successful and well-liked booking systems in place. 

More details, including how to book, will be shared nearer the time to help residents plan their visits. 

The change is part of our wider efforts to improve services, reduce waste and respond to the climate emergency, outlined in our Waste Strategy and Climate Emergency Action Plan.