The Top 8 Compostable Bin Liners And Trash Bags
Single-use plastics are the worst polluters in the world today and trash bags are one of the biggest drivers. They fill up landfills, make their way into our water sources, and even manage to pollute the air when they are burned for disposal. They are basically all-pervasive toxins that have managed to infiltrate the biogeochemical cycle to a frightening amount. Plastic takes over 500 years to disintegrate. Even when it does disappear, it doesn’t break down into the base elements. The molecules remain toxic and continue to pollute all the biological systems that they end up in.
When we learned all these facts we were shocked. As we kept an eye on our plastic use, we grew appalled at our own habits. When we decided to make a change we knew it was going to be difficult. The simplest things were going to take some extra effort from our side. So we decided to start small. Our first instinct was to change the most obvious culprit. Think of all the times you have filled a giant thin plastic bag with trash just to have it end up in a landfill. Thinking of that impact, we switched to compostable trash bags. We would encourage you to start with the same if you are thinking of going down this path.
13-15 Gallon Biodegradable Compostable Recycling Unscented Trash Bags: To start out with something generic and a no brainer, these white trash bags are made from plant-based corn starch. For a 13 gallon bag, it is much taller than the average of its volume. This makes it fit taller trash cans easily. They are also generously thick coming in at 1.8 mil which is enough to carry your usual load. They have none of that acrid smell that you get from cheap plastic bags. Instead, they have a neutral smell and hence are a perfect match for smell sensitive people. We recommend these as starters before you move on to something adventurous to better match your preferences.
Biodegradable,4-6 Gallon Trash bags Recycling & Degradable: For smaller dustbins like the one near the sink or one in the bathroom, these 4-gallon bags are perfect. The company also manufactures large bags in the same color and type. Try these out before using the larger ones. They are highly rated and super affordable. They are again made from corn starch which naturally decomposes. They are green in color to separate yourselves from the neighbors who might be using the regular black colored trash bags.They are rated for a maximum weight of 11 pounds which is more than enough for a small dustbin.
FORID 13 Gallon Tall Kitchen Garbage Bags 80 Count Unscented: These are also green colored bags but of the larger variety which can hold around 80 pounds. They have an octagonal bottom that is sealed to keep the trash, especially any wet liquids, from leaking out. The bags have an unique certification according to the American standard ASTM D6400 and European standard EN 13432. The bags are also made from plant starch material. We recommend them for their extraordinary load bearing capacity.
UNNI ASTM D6400 100% Compostable Trash Bags, 2.6 Gallon: Coming back to smaller bags with a certified rating, we have these ones which are manufactured in San Francisco. It has the OK Compost Home certification which makes it 100% biodegradable in home composts. If you already have a garden or home compost, these ones are a no-brainer. They can be used as kitchen side bags to collect organic material for composting and then chucked as a whole into the home compost. We love the name of the brand, UNNI, which is inspired by the concept of unity. They believe unity is necessary to make the earth a better place for everyone in the future.
Plant-Based – Hippo Sak Tall Kitchen Bags with Handles, 13 Gallon: If you are looking for bags that you can carry with handles, we found these that are certified by the USDA. The bags are made from a minimum of 80% recycled sugar cane materials. A single pack of these bags helps reduce CO2 emissions by 5 pounds and reduce fossil fuel consumption by 2 liters. They are made in the USA.
Norpro 100% Compostable Bags, 50 Count: These are small compostable bags that are both ASTM D6400 and EN13432 certified. The confidence in their product is shown by the fact that the information is printed on every bag. They are a little thin making them quick decomposers. This is great for the kitchen bin which deals with food scraps, coffee grounds, fruit skins, eggshells, etc.
STOUT by Envision E3039E11 EcoSafe-6400 Compostable Bags: These bags have the USCC and BPI(Biodegradable Products Institute) certification. The bags degrade in 10 to 45 days and biodegrade in around 6 months. Though nothing out of the ordinary about the product, the company that makes these is special. The company creates employment for blind or visually impaired people. The bags are a little expensive for the amount and price but we love products that serve the purpose and also help support a good cause.
ETSUS Large Biodegradable Trash Bags 75 Pieces, Tall Heavy Duty Rubbish Wastebasket Liner Bags: Finally these bags offer the benefits of most of the above products with the added advantage of having drawstrings. It is a simple feature but once you start exploring sustainable products you will realize just how many sacrifices are made. These bags are adequately large and strong with bright yellow color and green drawstring carriages. One added bonus is the inclusion of an ebook with the purchase. This shows that the company ETSUS is committed to its mission by adding value in the form of education for their customers.
The damage plastic bags do to the environment is often inconceivable for humans with a limited scope of imagination. It is only when you look at the science that the real big picture starts to emerge. Often we choose short-sighted but convenient decisions that end up harming the planet in the long term. Choosing the right trash bag is a just very small positive decision to start with. Let this be the first one of many good decisions to come!
Love,
Scooch and Steve
