Efforts are now underway to replace thousands of faulty red recycling bags distributed to households last year. Starting on Monday, June 22, a dedicated truck has been following recycling crews across the district, swapping out damaged or faded red bags. The council estimates that approximately 75% of the 88,000 bags issued require replacement.
These red bags, used specifically for plastic and metal recycling, were introduced in late 2024. However, many quickly began to deteriorate—turning white and disintegrating when exposed to sunlight. The council confirmed this was due to a manufacturing defect and assured residents that the replacement bags ordered will avoid these issues.
Council leader Mike Bell acknowledged the community’s frustration: “Many residents have found their red recycling bags fading or tearing much sooner than expected. This problem stemmed from production faults, but the council has been compensated by the supplier and is now distributing replacement bags.”
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Initially, residents could request new bags individually, but with the large-scale replacement underway, the council has closed new requests. Those who requested bags before the cutoff will receive their replacements within the coming weeks.
The comprehensive replacement program is expected to continue until spring 2027, progressing neighborhood by neighborhood. Mr. Bell added: “We understand this may be inconvenient, but the council is committed to resolving the issue thoroughly and promptly.”
The red bags were first introduced to a trial group of 6,000 households in November 2024 to encourage recycling, receiving generally positive feedback despite some complaints that the bags were too large. Afterward, smaller bags were ordered and distributed to all homes across North Somerset by the end of March 2025. Both the trial and full rollout bags were supplied by the same reputable company.
Importantly, no problems were reported with bags from the initial trial batch, but the full rollout bags began deteriorating within months. In December 2025, following lengthy negotiations, the council secured a refund for the defective bags, enabling this replacement initiative.