'Retrograde step' - Council defends reintroduction of recycling bags for kerbside collections

But opposition Conservatives have branded it a “retrograde step” and said it made no sense that the bags would be manufactured and shipped from abroad if the aim was to reduce carbon emissions. Reusable bags will be sent to residents for plastic, cans and foil, although they will still have the option of using the existing recycling boxes.

South Gloucestershire Council stopped supplying bags to households in 2019 and replaced them with recycling boxes. However, many residents do not separate their recycling correctly or stack their boxes as requested, which makes collections longer and reduces the value of the recycling material.

The boxes also do not have lids and rubbish can blow away on a windy day. Cabinet member for communities and local place Cllr Sean Rhodes (Labour, Kingswood) said the new bags would have a seal at the top and be weighted to keep them in place.

He told the council’s scrutiny commission on October 1: “Rather than having a lid on them, they have a seal so it squeezes together like a crisp packet and it gives a much better seal and it’s far less likely to topple over and open up.”

Cllr Rhodes said the bags had a capacity of 90 litres compared with just 55 litres for boxes. He said: “It’s an optional addition, it comes with additional volume, it comes with a stronger seal, there is a lot to be said for this. The feedback from the operatives is positive.”

But Cllr Paul Hughes (Conservative, Bitton & Oldland Common) said crews had told him they did not like the bags, despite the findings from a small trial that they were the most popular option. “They say they’re quite hard to deal with,” said Cllr Hughes. “From an operative point of view, it’s a retrograde step.”

Cllr Rhodes replied: “You may have some anecdotal reports but we’ve carried out a trial and taken the feedback from staff which is positive towards using them.” Cllr Hughes said: “It seems rather strange that we’re shipping the [bags] from wherever in the world, and that misunderstands the whole idea of carbon reduction.

“We’re hellbent in this council to get to carbon neutral and I can’t understand the carbon cost of things being shipped.”

Council officer Bethan King, the project lead, said: “Unfortunately we are subject to the market that’s available and it is all abroad for manufacturing. If it was to be from the UK it would triple the cost and probably a bit more.

“We haven’t worked out the impact that has but we know that improving recycling rates will reduce the tonnages that go to our energy from waste facilities to get burned.”

She said other nearby councils had successfully trialled the bags and rolled them out to all homes. South Gloucestershire Council business strategy manager Keirsten Wilson said: “By introducing these bags it will mean that more will be recycled.”

She said it would decrease the amount of recyclable waste currently being put incorrectly into the black bins. Ms Wilson said: “We are not suggesting we replace the box with a bag, it’s an optional extra. So residents who are happy stacking their boxes do not need to use these bags.”

Cllr Jon Lean (Lib Dem, Frampton Cotterell) said: “I support this. It gives residents a choice, and giving residents a choice is a really good thing.” A report to the scrutiny commission said: “Most residents do not stack recycling boxes to prevent lightweight plastic, cans and foil from escaping during windy weather.

“Litter escaping from boxes is a common complaint from residents. The original decision to stop providing recycling bags was unpopular with many residents and may have impacted on their engagement with using boxes and properly separating their recycling.

“The cost of purchasing boxes has significantly increased in recent years to more than double the cost of recycling bags.”