![]() And once it does, it turns into microplastics that can end up in waterways and soils, with negative effects on wildlife and water quality.īefore the plastic even gets to landfill though, it has already had a significant environmental impact. Once the bags arrive at the dump, the plastic can take more than 500 years to break down. ![]() And even if it was, the quality of the plastic is so poor that it’s very hard to use for anything else. Because these are mostly used to contain garbage that is destined for landfills, this plastic is highly unlikely to be recycled. Most trash bags are made from virgin plastic and are single-use items, with a staggering number (likely in the billions) used each year in the US alone. The impact of plastic trash bags is often overlooked but it really shouldn’t be discounted, especially as it adds up over the course of a lifetime. What’s wrong with conventional plastic trash bags? These include BPI ASTM D6400 in the US and Europe OK Compost Home in Europe. And check for certifications when buying compostable bags. Just be careful not to get these bags wet or to expose them to humid or hot conditions as they’ll start to break down regardless of what’s in them. This might meant they take longer to break down in landfill conditions compared to home composting, but when they do, they will not result in microplastics entering the environment.Ĭompostable trash bags are a good option for hauling green waste to a composting facility or for hauling or storing (temporarily) other dry items such as newspaper, straw, clothing, and so forth. These bags are 100% plant-based and are designed to break down very quickly under certain conditions (typically high heat and moisture). In contrast, compostable trash bags are a great option as an alternative to single-use plastic trash bags. And if you have to use two bags or more to handle your trash, the eco-friendliness really starts to fade rather fast. The result may be a bag that sounds more eco-friendly but actually performs worse than a bag made with a mix of recycled plastic and virgin plastic. This sounds good, but it’s often the case that these bags are also made with virgin plastic. Plant-based can mean that some of the materials used to make the bags are sourced from sugar cane, corn starch, and other plant-derived materials. Companies tend to use these terms willy nilly, meaning we really have to be on our toes as consumers to avoid greenwashing (misleading marketing claims). Things get a bit confusing when talking about biodegradable, plant-based, and compostable trash bags. Jump to details Plant-based trash bags and compostable trash bags Those biodegradable bags are also almost always made with synthetic polymers that are petroleum-based, meaning more microplastics in the environment.Īll this means is you’re paying more for a product that required more energy and resources to produce than most plastic trash bags.ġ00% compostable trash bag that is earth friendly After all, the trash in the bag won’t biodegrade and the bag itself is unlikely to biodegrade in normal landfill conditions. The reality though is that this is tantamount to greenwashing. Here are some ideas to avoid the need for single-use plastic trash bags, followed by recommendations for some of the best alternatives to plastic trash bags.īefore we get started though, a note on biodegradable trash bagsĪt first glance, it might seem that biodegradable trash bags are a great choice for the environment. Happily, you have options a-plenty these days.
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