A colourful new fleet of food‑waste recycling trucks has begun operating across Somerset – including the Burnham-On-Sea area – as part of a major upgrade to the county’s recycling services.
SUEZ, working in partnership with Somerset Council, is celebrating the launch of the vehicles, which will support expanded food‑waste collections for residents living in communal properties such as flats and Houses of Multiple Occupancy. It means every household in Somerset can now recycle food waste alongside plastics, metals, cartons, cardboard, paper and glass.
The new trucks feature bright, eye‑catching artwork showing the journey food waste takes from the kitchen caddy to its transformation into green energy and fertiliser. The designs aim to remind residents of the positive impact their recycling efforts have on the county’s sustainability goals.
Matthew Canning, SUEZ Contract Director for Somerset, said the rollout marks an important milestone. He said the partnership is helping residents “play a direct role in generating renewable energy for a more sustainable county”.
Somerset Council’s Executive Member for Transport and Waste Services, Cllr Richard Wilkins, said the expansion of food‑waste collections is a “significant step forward” that will help reduce waste, cut emissions and turn discarded food into a valuable resource.
In a light‑hearted touch, the vehicles also feature a cast of animated food‑waste characters familiar from recent YouTube and ITV‑X campaigns. The characters are designed to make food‑waste recycling more engaging and memorable for residents of all ages.
One of the messages displayed on the trucks highlights the impact of small actions: a single full kitchen caddy of food waste can generate enough energy to power a lightbulb for an entire day. It’s a simple reminder of how everyday habits can make a meaningful difference.
Residents are being encouraged to make full use of their food‑waste caddies and support Somerset’s wider environmental ambitions. More information on what can be recycled, along with collection calendars, is available via Somerset Council’s waste pages.
