At the Ruislip Residents’ Association General Meeting on September 30, 2025, the poor quality of the new compostable food waste bags was a popular topic of discussion.
Residents expressed strong dissatisfaction with the new caddy liners, describing them as “dreadful” and “not fit for purpose”.
The main complaints centred on the bags’ lack of durability. One resident explained the frustration, noting, “You can’t even get one off the roll without it tearing”. Other residents agreed, adding that the bags split and disintegrate, and one had a bag split all over her kitchen floor.
Council Response
Councillor Smallwood, who was present at the meeting and was left to field the complaints from residents about the bags, confirmed he was aware of the issue. He acknowledged that the council has received “a significant number of complaints” since a new supplier took over the contract to supply the bags.
He explained that the change was part of a “cost-saving measure” but stressed that the “tender was for the same specification of bag” as the previous, better-quality ones.
Cllr. Smallwood shared the council’s “official advice” for dealing with the practical issues: residents should “double bag, or line the caddy with newspaper first”.
This suggestion was met with frustration from residents, with comments including “Ridiculous!”. A resident pointed out that this was a “false economy,” as residents either have to use two bags or, as she has done, buy their own.
Next Steps
Councillor Smallwood assured the meeting that he understood the frustration. He promised to take the “strength of feeling” back to the waste management team, stating that the council would be “reviewing the contract and checking that we’re getting what we paid for“.
If we hear anything more about this critically important issue (!), we will report back.
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