North Somerset Council has addressed concerns after reports that the new red recycling bags are “falling apart at the seams.” These bags were introduced to encourage more recycling, but many residents have found themselves disposing of the bags themselves due to damage.
If your red recycling bag is damaged, the council advises disposing of it responsibly—either by taking it to a recycling centre or placing it in your black bin. If your bag is undamaged or only faded, you should continue using it and store it away from direct sunlight when possible, as sun exposure accelerates wear.
You can order a replacement red bag through the council’s website. However, there is an important caveat: replacement bags come from the same batch and may also be susceptible to fading or breaking if left in sunlight. To extend the life of your replacement bag, keep it stored out of direct sunlight.
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While waiting for your new bag, the council recommends using your existing recycling boxes and continuing to sort your recycling carefully. Additionally, make sure glass bottles and jars are clearly visible for collection crews.
These 90-litre red bags are designed for recycling plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays, and household metal packaging. Their foldable design was intended to offer convenient storage compared to traditional plastic boxes. However, the durability issues caused by sun exposure have been an unexpected drawback.
Initially, the council ordered 6,000 red bags for a trial and expanded distribution district-wide in March. While the original bags have held up well, many of the newer bags have shown significant deterioration.
Annemieke Waite, council cabinet member for planning and environment, acknowledged the problem during a November 11 full council meeting: “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 negotiating with the supplier to find a financial resolution to the issue and improve the quality of the bags moving forward.