An event organised by North Somerset Council to replace defective recycling bags has been cancelled due to safety concerns over the large number of attendees.
Last year, the council introduced red recycling bags for household plastic and metal; however, a production defect caused many bags to fade to white and disintegrate when exposed to sunlight. The council held two “drop and swap” events to replace faulty bags, but turnout vastly exceeded expectations.
The third event, scheduled for 20 August at The Campus in Weston-super-Mare, has now been cancelled. In a statement on Facebook, the council’s recycling team explained that the venue could not safely accommodate the number of people attending previous events.
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At the initial event held at a Weston-super-Mare car park, 400 red bags were exchanged amidst queues lasting over an hour on one of the hottest days of the year. An event in Nailsea saw even greater demand, with 800 bags swapped before supplies ran out, resulting in some residents being turned away.
The council acknowledged the long queues and thanked residents for their patience, while also apologising to those unable to obtain a replacement bag in Nailsea.
Residents do not need to attend such events to receive new bags, as the council is distributing replacements directly to households via trucks following recycling collections. This process is expected to cover the district by spring.
The swap events were intended for residents whose red bags had become unusable; however, many people with red bags that had merely faded but remained intact also attended, increasing crowds.
Local children’s entertainer Abe Bowen, who attended the first event, described the experience as frustrating, noting the hour-long wait in direct sunlight without shade, water, or toilet facilities, which was particularly challenging for elderly attendees.
The council originally trialled 6,000 red bags in November 2024, which were well received aside from some complaints about size. Following this, smaller bags were ordered and distributed across North Somerset from March 2025, although both batches were sourced from the same “very reputable firm.”
While the initial trial bags showed no issues, the full rollout bags began deteriorating within months. Following extended negotiations, the council received a refund for the defective bags in December 2025 and estimates that 75% of the bags across the district require replacement. To date, 88,000 replacement bags, free from the defect, have been supplied.
It remains undecided whether a fourth swap event planned for the Lake Grounds in Portishead on Monday between 2pm and 4pm will proceed, with the council stating that safety considerations remain a priority.
The council urges residents to continue recycling while awaiting new bags, recommending the use of existing recycling boxes or other containers, such as carrier bags and boxes no larger than a standard recycling box, if their red bag is unusable.