RECYCLING, rubbish and other waste collections have been suspended and all recycling sites are closed across Somerset today in response to Storm Eunice.

The Met Office has issued a red weather warning for parts of the county and an amber warning across the rest.

In light of the potential risk to crews and public, Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) has taken the decision to suspend all services for the day.

Missed rubbish collections will be returned for tomorrow (Saturday, February 19).

Missed recycling collections and clinical waste collections will be returned for next Friday (February 25).

Garden waste collections scheduled for today have been suspended until subscribers’ next scheduled collection day.

The ten recycling sites due to be open today will remain closed (Yeovil, Frome, Taunton, Minehead, Poole/Wellington, Bridgwater, Highbridge, Dulcote, Chard and Somerton).

At this stage all 16 sites are expected to be open on Saturday and Sunday as usual, though this will be continually reviewed.

Mickey Green, managing director of SWP, said: “This is obviously a difficult decision, but the health and safety of crews and the public has to be paramount.

“We will be working closely with our contractor SUEZ on a plan to return for missed collections and will provide information as soon as possible.

“For today, we would very much encourage people to keep their recycling, rubbish, garden waste and other containers somewhere very sheltered to avoid them becoming a danger to themselves or others in what look likely to be very extreme conditions in many parts of the county.

“If you notice your neighbour’s bins and boxes are out, perhaps consider letting them know that collections have been suspended so they can bring theirs in too."