Sometimes it feels like Americans create so much waste. I found statistics online that showed that while we're recycling more, we're still sending more to our landfills because our waste has almost tripled in the last half-century as our population has grown and society has gotten wealthier, resulting in buying more packaged goods. I think about this a lot. We recycle at work and it's hard to keep up with the bags of plastic containers that topple over in the kitchen and our personal bags of paper next to our desks. It's good that we're recycling but it's still just a lot of stuff. If I'm producing this much as just one person, how do we even have room in our landfills anymore? Then I think about all those plastic bags holding our trash that are sent to landfills. What happens to them? So I decided to do my part to reduce waste, both my recycling more but also cutting back on trash bags. Let me explain ...
When I moved into my apartment, I had to buy trash cans, one of many silly decisions to be made during my grand shopping spree to Target. I wanted a smaller can for trash because when you're conscious about recycling, your recycling container actually fills up faster, with all the plastic containers, beer bottles, newspapers, circulars, etc. My trash is mainly food scraps and those odd items that can't be recycled, like energy bar wrappers (and bottle caps? I've never been able to figure that one out). So after much internal debate and staring at cans trying to imagine the right size I needed, I ended up buying a 13-gallon can for recyclables that sits next to my fridge.
For my trash, I couldn't find one that would fit under my sink so I ended up using a wicker basket I already had. I knew the plan was flawed because wicker and liquid don't mix (I bet you never learned that in driver's ed). I wasn't happy about the occasional leaky trash bag, but it worked well enough. The bigger pain was my determination to not buy trash bags. I used a Trader Joe's reusable shopping bag in my recycling can and it would fill up quickly, but there was still room in the can so the bag would overflow and be a pain to take out. For trash I had no choice so for a while I used the occasional plastic bag I ended up with or the bags holding my newspapers on days when there was a chance of rain (they definitely erred on the safe side because I got those bags a lot, way more than it rained).
But I had planted the seeds of a better plan, one that involved no plastic sent to a landfill, when I saw biodegradable bags for sale in a catalog for Gaiam, which sells eco-friendly items like overpriced organic cotton yoga pants. I was like a child at Christmas pouring through the Sears catalog. I want, I want! I waited for a while and finally last month I decided to order them. They're for composting -- small ones for kitchen compost containers and larger ones for yard waste. But I figured I could use the small ones for my trash, so the bag I sent to the landfill would eventually biodegrade. They're pricier than regular trash bags (about $6 for 25 3-gallon bags) but I wouldn't go through them that quickly. When I did some research online, I found out they sold the same brand, BioBag, at Whole Foods. That made things easier, since I didn't have to pay for shipping.
One person had left a comment saying that the only drawback was they started to decompose a little if left too long before being taken out. The box says "BioBags are shelf stable yet biodegrade quickly when exposed to nature's elements and micro-organisms." They weren't kidding. The first week was fine but the second week there was some liquid in the bag so after five or so days the thin green plastic started to melt right into my wicker basket. Ewwee. The minute I discovered this I rushed the bag off to my apartment's trash bins.
This is where fate comes in, or perhaps the earth sending me a sign to chill out a little. I had just reluctantly bought trash bags for a weekend beach party. I couldn't have opened the box any faster. I put a bag in my larger trash can, converted it to holding my trash, and moved my recycling in the TJ's bag to next to the trash can. No wicker basket. This is a much better plan. No fear of melting bags, plus it's been easier not having to open the cabinet door and lean down to throw away cucumber peels.
I tried making an everyday part of living more environmental, but it's easier and more convenient the old-fashioned, more wasteful way. I'm not sure what to do now with my biodegradable trash bags. The box recommends using them to store produce in your fridge because your veggies will stay fresher longer. But maybe I'll keep them for when I decide to make my life less convenient again and attempt to compost!
Save your money- do not buy compostable bags for use with trash in a landfill. They need heat, moisture, and air to break down, none of which is available in a landfill.They are designed for composting, period. You need a plastic that is able to biodegrade anaerobically in a landfill with no air, heat, and moisture.Green Film is such a product.
ReplyDeleteHere's a way to reduce your trash even more and you don't need to buy a composter. I just chop up all my waste veggies...no meat...and dig a hole in my flower bed and in goes the veggie waste. I keep the veggie waste in a container until I get enough to fill a shovel hole. I cover the waste with the dirt and within a week or two...it's mostly gone. It's good for the soil and once it breaks down, makes excellent food for plants.
ReplyDeleteWe all need to do something if we are going to help our planet become healthier.
Thanks for all you efforts.
Max
http://www.ensobottles.com
In researching my eco-conscious trash bag purchase I read your post and was pointed in the right direction by your feedback and the first persons comment. I found biodegradable trash bags that are landfill tested. EcoSafe bags are made of a modified plastic that will loose 95% of its molecular weight in less than 10 months and totally biodegrade in about 36 months.
ReplyDeleteI found the best prices at http://letsgogreen.biz/pages/plastic/trash.html
Be aware that shipping on this site is a bit $$$ My order to Los Angeles racked up $10 in shipping. I'll order bulk and split orders with friends from now on.
For a slight discount on shipping use the coupon code: friend
It's awesome to see that other people are trying to make less of an impact and working together to do so.
- Toshi Jones
there is heat and moisture in land fills.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link, Toshi!
ReplyDeleteI bought Pride Green on LetsGoGreen.biz. These biodegradable trash bags are amazing. Extremely strong and are the only bio bag designed to be stable until they reach a landfill.
ReplyDeleteI tried the Pride Green last month. My office likes the 45-50 gallon clear High Density bag. Pride Green is the only company that had a biodegradable High Density clear trash bag. Letsgogreen.biz had Pride Green at a great price.
ReplyDeleteI went to Letsgogreen.biz and I didn't see pride green trash bags. Are they still carrying them?
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ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting take on the concept. I never thought of it that way. I came across this site recently which I think will be of great use http://www.buygreensavvy.com . Have a look!
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ReplyDeleteI just caught wind of this you published. Really it’s a good stuff for those who are looking for trash bags seemed like a good idea. I would like to tweet on it and keep my eye behind at every moment you blogging.
ReplyDeleteBuy Pride Green 100% Biodegradable Bags Here! http://www.bbfdirect.com/pc/pridegreen
ReplyDeleteYou may have to paste this into your browser, its really a great site and at Wholesale prices. They can be found also at Lunardi's, Andronico's, Mollie Stone's, Whole Foods (south regions), Berkeley Bowl, Piedmont Grocery, PJ's Market, Marina Market, Cal Mart, Bryan's, Valencia Whole Foods, Urban Harvest, Earth Fare, and many more markets! Go Pride Green. They also have a new Pet line of waste bags that are so great!! Thanks again....
Why do you have a trader Joe's logo on our site... They do not accept crv containers at their stores as required by California state law. They just pay a $100.00 fine per day per store to be exempt form this regulation....which by the way they can afford. State law requires supermarkets to redeem for cash, containers sold by them at their stores. As you can see when you enter the wall of bottled plastic containers and everything else they sell....this is a big european company hiding behind a fake pseudo hip California surfing grocery store!!!! hahahahaha
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to clarify: In order to for anything to biodegrade, there has to be microorganisms present. For microorganisms to be present, there has to be oxygen. Landfills are anaerobic (without oxygen). Therefor: nothing breaks down in landfills. Even paper and food waste more or less rots and creates methane in landfills. It does not biodegrade. NO bag can claim to be biodegradable in a landfill. Bags that claim to be biodegradable are essentially polyethylene plastic bag with an additive. That additive causes the bags to fragment into little polyethylene pieces but not biodegrade. Certified compostable bags are the real deal and contain no polyethylene but need to be be composted. Please do some more research before purchasing and recommending biodegradable plastics. http://www.sustainableplastics.org/spotlight/biodegradable-plastics-true-or-false-good-or-bad
ReplyDeleteI realize this is a dead thread, but was useful to me in trying to find a more sustainable trashbag. The biodegradable vs compostable was helpful. Thank you. As to you food was question, have you considered worm composting? I have been doing it for a little less than a year and it works very well. There really is no smell (presuming you keep the meat and cheese out).
ReplyDeleteThe main reason to post though is the comment on the previous anonymous post. Rotting is biodegrading. And anaerobic does not mean there are no bacteria. There are a whole host of anaerobic bacteria. It's where methane comes from, whether it is in swamps, deep sea vents or the enteric tract of a cow or landfills, their called methanogens. And yes, I am a microbiologist.
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