Garbage bags

[RedFlagRobot]

We all try to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible, but there's still always garbage. I'm wondering what the most environmentally friendly garbage bags are? Are there any that are biodegradable?

[cliff]

Garbage can's are more responsible then the black bags imo. We reuse shopping bags and then throw them into the can, no black bag needed.

There are biodegradable plastic bags, but other then the ones that came with our composter pail, I've never used them.

[brunes]

Garbage can's are more responsible then the black bags imo. We reuse shopping bags and then throw them into the can, no black bag needed.

There are biodegradable plastic bags, but other then the ones that came with our composter pail, I've never used them.

Many municipalities will simply refuse to pick up trash that is not properly bagged.

Biodegradable plastic is a misnomer anyway since it does not exist. All "biodegradable palstics" do is biodegradable at the macroscopic level leaving behind plastic dust that is still mixed in with the soil for thousands of years.

You just can't see it so it gives you the warm fuzzies.

[granite_grrl]

Many municipalities will simply refuse to pick up trash that is not properly bagged.

Really? They make you use bags instead of a can? That seems pretty silly, I never heard of that before.

BTW - I do the same thing as cliff, minus bags for the compost bin. We just use a small container which we dump frequently and then rinse out.

[RedFlagRobot]

As far as I was aware, garbage here (Ottawa) has to be properly bagged. But perhaps I should do some more research - maybe I don't need garbage bags at all.

[brunes]

Really? They make you use bags instead of a can? That seems pretty silly, I never heard of that before.

BTW - I do the same thing as cliff, minus bags for the compost bin. We just use a small container which we dump frequently and then rinse out.

There's good reason for it. Unless your municipality has one of those special dolly-type bins you can rent or buy, then the garbage man has to pick up your trash and put it in the truck by hand. The majority of places are like this. If your trash is not properly bagged, it is that much more difficult for him to do his job properly, which means it takes him longer, so he gets less done, and it is more expensive. There is also a much higher chance of loose or light trash blowing away as he tries to dump it in the truck, so it is a sanitary issue as well.

Consider, if they have to idle that big diesel truck for 10 seconds longer because you didn't bag your trash, then you probably just canceled out the impact of not using the bag in the first place.

[thrifter]

I recently started using garbage bags with the D2W additive.
It's not ideal, but since my municipality requires black/green bags for trash I hope it's better than straight plastic bags.

They are made / licensed technology from a British company called Symphony.
http://www.degradable.net/

I found them at my local pharmacy (Jean Coutu) in a non-descript recycled cardboard box.
They are a few pennies more than the regular plastic Glad bags, but I feel slightly less guilty about tossing them out.

Whoever thought of making products that people buy with the express purpose of throwing said product away was a marketing genius. A terrible polluter, but one heck of a money maker.

[mrwally]

Here are some 100% Degradable Garbage Bags and they are made in Canada:

http://www.greenerdaze.com/index.php?productID=103

http://www.greenerdaze.com/products_pictures/bullyblack200.jpg

They aren't "bio" degradable, but they will breakdown in landfill.

[nator86]

Just goto t & t (the grocery store) they use biodegradable bags made by epi to bag your groceries. Free and good for the environment.

[oscar_dog]

Here are some 100% Degradable Garbage Bags and they are made in Canada:

http://www.greenerdaze.com/index.php?productID=103

http://www.greenerdaze.com/products_pictures/bullyblack200.jpg

They aren't "bio" degradable, but they will breakdown in landfill.

Has anybody tried these? Are they strong enough?

[mrwally]

Has anybody tried these? Are they strong enough?

I use them and strength hasn't been a problem for me. They are a little smaller than some of the other bags out there, but if you don't have a problem staying below your limit it's not a real issue.

[George W. Bush]

People should start composting - they get soil in the end to use on the lawn or give away to people that have lawns, and at the same time reduce the stuff you throw out!

[brunes]

Here are some 100% Degradable Garbage Bags and they are made in Canada:

http://www.greenerdaze.com/index.php?productID=103

http://www.greenerdaze.com/products_pictures/bullyblack200.jpg

They aren't "bio" degradable, but they will breakdown in landfill.

They just break down into pieces.. they are no better for the environment in the long haul at all. The plastic is still plastic.

Aside from this - anything remotely plastic in a modern landfill does not biodegrade anyway! Landfills are sealed environments specifically designed to keep leachate out of the environment - this also has the effect of seriously hampering bio-degration. Anying you send to a landfill, even paper, will not biodegrade for a long time.

This is just green washing, you are wasting your money.