Biodegradable garbage bags

[shutterbug]

I noticed this weekend Glad is promoting a new line of biodegradable garbage bags. Has anyone had experience with them? I'm worried that by their very nature they're not very durable and having them break apart before I get their contents to the dumpster. Especially the corn starch based ones I read one person mention they break part from water. In the summer my can gets quite humid from the garbage rotting in it. Pretty expensive too, $5 for 10. Although I later saw some at Costco for $0.33 each.

[supersnazz]

I don't know about the Glad bags, but can offer advice on two others:

Costco bags (can't recall brand) - returned them after 1-2 uses, as moisture from decaying organics permeates through the bag, leaving the outside of the bag covered in a thin layer of moisture.

Walmart bags (I think it was their in-house brand): pretty decent; no moisture leaking to the outside.

[rock hard]

I read a warning about them too, it was in regards to NOT putting them in the compost (household). Guess people thought biodegradable = compostable :cheesygri

[brunes]

I read a warning about them too, it was in regards to NOT putting them in the compost (household). Guess people thought biodegradable = compostable :cheesygri

Like has been posted many times in these threads most "biodegradable" plastics just break down into really small pieces. The plastic doesn't actually go anywhere. They're no better for the environment at all than normal bags.

There are some new technologies on the horizon with corn-based polymers that actually do break down, but it is tricky cause you want it to biodegrade but only over a longer term, like 1-2 years underground. Otherwise the bag is useless for holding the garbage.

Aside from all this stuff you send to a landfill doesn't biodegrade ANYWAY - not even paper. This is because a modern landfill is a sealed environment, there is not enough natural decomposing organics in the landfil to do anything.

[rock hard]

I've used the corn starch as well the potato based knives/forks and spoons.. must say they are the cats meow!

[fortunekitty500]

I've been using the ones from Costco for the past 18 months. The brand is Biosak. They are biodegradeable AND compostable. Way cheaper than the Glad stuff and I like that they're compostable. Made from veg and corn starch.

Incredibly strong bags, I stuff them to the max. Never had a leak until about 2 weeks when I forgot to empty my bin when I went on vacation. Oops. Well, at least I know it breaks down!

There is some condensation in the bin from the bags but doesn't make the outside of the bags wet. I used to use the veggie bags from the supermarket but they leaked and never fit the bins quite right. So I'm willing to pay a few cents for this convenience.

[shutterbug]

So how often do you take out the trash? ie. How long does the bag survive indoors with trash in it?


I've been using the ones from Costco for the past 18 months. The brand is Biosak. They are biodegradeable AND compostable. Way cheaper than the Glad stuff and I like that they're compostable. Made from veg and corn starch.

Incredibly strong bags, I stuff them to the max. Never had a leak until about 2 weeks when I forgot to empty my bin when I went on vacation. Oops. Well, at least I know it breaks down!

There is some condensation in the bin from the bags but doesn't make the outside of the bags wet. I used to use the veggie bags from the supermarket but they leaked and never fit the bins quite right. So I'm willing to pay a few cents for this convenience.

[fortunekitty500]

So how often do you take out the trash? ie. How long does the bag survive indoors with trash in it?

The longest I've kept it was a week. I try to change it out after 3 days even when it's not full just because it stinks esp. in the summer.