North Somerset Council has addressed concerns after reports emerged that the new red recycling bags are “falling apart at the seams.” Introduced to encourage better recycling habits, these bags have unfortunately led to frustration as many are becoming damaged and being discarded in black bins themselves.
The council advises that any damaged bags should be taken to a recycling centre or disposed of in the black bin. However, if your bag is merely faded or still intact, you should continue using it and try to store it away from direct sunlight to prolong its lifespan.
If you need a replacement bag, you can order one through the council’s website. But there’s a catch: replacement bags come from the same batch as the faulty ones, meaning they may also fade or deteriorate if exposed to sunlight. The council recommends keeping replacement bags stored indoors and, while waiting for them to arrive, using your existing recycling boxes and carefully sorting your recycling. Glass bottles and jars should be clearly visible for collection crews.
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These 90-litre red bags are designed for plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays, and household metal packaging. Their portability and foldable design were meant to offer a more convenient alternative to bulky plastic recycling boxes. However, their vulnerability to sun damage has been an unexpected drawback.
Initially, the council ordered 6,000 red bags on a trial basis before rolling them out district-wide in March. While the original batch remains in good condition, many of the newer bags have shown signs of fading and damage.
Annemieke Waite, the council cabinet member for planning and environment, acknowledged the issue during a full council meeting on November 11, saying, “There is a distinct problem with them. Some of the red bags are fading and failing. They are literally falling apart at the seams. So we are having extensive discussions with the supplier. We are not happy at all.”
The council is actively engaging with the supplier to resolve the problem, including discussions around financial compensation to address the faulty bags.