Heritage Open Day - Taunton Material Recycling Facility tour

Name: Heritage Open Day - Taunton Material Recycling Facility tour
Start: 2026-09-12T10:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-09-12T15:00:00+01:00
Location: TA2 8QP

Schedule

Sat Sep 12 2026 at 10:00 am to 03:00 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

TA2 8QP | Taunton, EN

Join us for a fun, behind-the-scenes tour of Taunton’s recycling facility for Heritage Open Day!
About this Event

Come and learn more about recycling in Somerset and have a guided tour of Taunton Material Recycling Facility.

Discover what happens to your recycling once the crews have collected it from your home in Somerset. Find out why we ask you to sort your recycling into different coloured containers and what happens to it next.

This facility is one of two material recycling facilities (MRFs) in Somerset. Here your recycling is sorted and separated, ready to be sold on and recycled into new products. The facility was substantially upgraded in 2020 when the new service, Recycle More, was rolled out in the west of the county. With new technology, new trucks and a new service delivering more recycling, the facility now processes around 40,000 tonnes of recycling each year.

See how the collected recycling is delivered in different vehicles before being sent to various parts of the facility to be sorted. Learn how materials mixed in your blue bag go through the sorting machine and emerge as separated aluminium cans, steel cans, and plastics.

Get up close to the recycling collection lorries and explore the mobile plant vehicles used on site.

The tours will be hosted by SUEZ’s dedicated site operatives, who are the experts working on the frontline of Somerset’s recycling initiatives. They will take you through each process; showcasing important information about the facility and highlighting some of the dangers they face from misplaced hazardous materials such as batteries, gas canisters and sharp objects.

The walk-and-talk format will be an excellent opportunity for you to ask questions as the tour progresses.

Important Information

The visit is expected to last around 1 hour; it will include a short safety induction, a tour of the facility and a chance to speak to our team. Please arrive 10 minutes early to ensure a prompt start to the tour.

Please be aware that the tour involves some walking and stairs. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility issues, vertigo or those fitted with a pacemaker (due to strong magnets in the machinery). For safety reasons children under 7 years old are not permitted on the tour and under 16s must be with an adult.

Please note, you only need to book one time slot for the tour. There are 20 spaces on each tour time, so booking is essential!

Dress code

Please wear full length trousers for safety on site.
Visitors are required to wear flat shoes, trainers or walking boots. Sandals, flip flops or heeled shoes are not permitted.

Anyone failing to comply with the dress code will not be permitted on the tour.

Please be aware that this is an operational site, therefore business-critical issues will always take priority over visitor tours. Tours may be cancelled at late notice.

Agenda

🕑: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Tour 1