Spin-off: If you use reusable grocery bags, what do you use for garbage bags?

[melissel]

This is the one thing that keeps me from completely eliminating plastic grocery bags in our lives--we use them in our garbage can most of the time. If you don't bring home plastic grocery bags, what do you use for garbage bags? It doesn't make sense to me to use reusable grocery bags for our groceries yet buy trash bags for the garbage can, but I can't seem to find a reasonable source for recycled plastic trash bags.

Thanks!

[sclisa]

two that I'm aware of, and have used, are: Seventh Generation and BioBags. Seventh Generation bags are made from recycled plastic, and they cost around $4 for 30 bags. The BioBags are compostable/biodegradable, and I've only purchased them in bulk, so I don't know what the cost is for fewer bags. 300 bags are $55, but that's a *lot* of bags and would last a long time here. Usually, I'll split the cost and the bags with someone else. I'm not sure that this qualifies as "reasonable" in terms of budget, but maybe someone else has a better source. :)

Lisa

[kdeno]

when I run low for my garbage then I go back to my cloth bags :)

[melissel]

two that I'm aware of, and have used, are: Seventh Generation and BioBags. Seventh Generation bags are made from recycled plastic, and they cost around $4 for 30 bags. The BioBags are compostable/biodegradable, and I've only purchased them in bulk, so I don't know what the cost is for fewer bags. 300 bags are $55, but that's a *lot* of bags and would last a long time here. Usually, I'll split the cost and the bags with someone else. I'm not sure that this qualifies as "reasonable" in terms of budget, but maybe someone else has a better source. :)

Lisa

I knew of Seventh Gen, but they're almost impossible to find here, and priced outrageously. Where do you buy BioBags in bulk? Thanks for your reply!

[Kelli in TN]

This is the one thing that keeps me from completely eliminating plastic grocery bags in our lives--we use them in our garbage can most of the time. If you don't bring home plastic grocery bags, what do you use for garbage bags? It doesn't make sense to me to use reusable grocery bags for our groceries yet buy trash bags for the garbage can, but I can't seem to find a reasonable source for recycled plastic trash bags.

Thanks!


Garbage bags :o

Not good I know!

[Colleen]

It doesn't make sense to me to use reusable grocery bags for our groceries yet buy trash bags for the garbage can

You're right ~ it doesn't make sense! Are you able to buy Biobags? Check out their website for more info. I use them, but I honestly don't go through many since we don't generate a lot of trash what with recycling and composting. Sometimes if I don't have a any Biobags (today, for example), I resort to using a paper bag. I have also been known to avoid using a bag altogether and instead take trash directly to the bin outside the house. Try it for a week. It's a good way to become more cognizant of your trash "production".;)

[sclisa]

Well, the last time we bought them, we used treecycle.com. However, depending on where you live, shipping could be *really* prohibitive! I haven't bought from that source since we lived in SC, that's for sure. I know drugstore.com has them too, but I don't know about pricing, quantity or shipping costs. I did a small amount of checking before replying, and it looks as if organicuniverse.com is having a special right now on their tall kitchen bags....80 ct. for $36.80 with free shipping. These are the tall bags though. When I was referring to them above, I was talking about the smaller bags.

I'm sorry I'm not more help. As I said, you may be able to utilize treecycle...but that will really depend on your shipping zone.

Lisa

[melissel]

Well, the last time we bought them, we used treecycle.com. However, depending on where you live, shipping could be *really* prohibitive! I haven't bought from that source since we lived in SC, that's for sure. I know drugstore.com has them too, but I don't know about pricing, quantity or shipping costs. I did a small amount of checking before replying, and it looks as if organicuniverse.com is having a special right now on their tall kitchen bags....80 ct. for $36.80 with free shipping. These are the tall bags though. When I was referring to them above, I was talking about the smaller bags.

I'm sorry I'm not more help. As I said, you may be able to utilize treecycle...but that will really depend on your shipping zone.

Lisa

No, those are great leads, thank you all!

[mcconnellboys]

In our small trashcans around the house, we don't use bags at all. They are filled mostly with paper trash, so generally nothing that would be messy. If they get dirty inside, we take them outside and wash them out.

These get emptied every weekend (or more often, if needed) into our one, large kitchen garbage bag to go out for pickup. So we generally only use one bag per week and it gets completely filled. Not my preferred option, but better than tons of bags.....

Regena

[TRILLIUM]

We don't have all that much trash. We compost, have a worm bin, recycle all paper, glass, cans. Use cloth bags for the grocery store, but forget enough that we still have all the plastic bags we need for other stuff.

[Tammyla]

Plastic bags are required here for city garbage pick-up. They can be any kind, but the trash must be bagged.

[melissel]

Plastic bags are required here for city garbage pick-up. They can be any kind, but the trash must be bagged.

Here too. Plus, I don't think my DH would go for throwing the garbage right in the bins. As it is, I'm constantly picking out the recyclables he throws in the garbage. (Insert head-popping smiley here)

So here's another question then. What would be better--biodegradable bags or recycled plastic bags? From what I've read, the biodegradable bags, once buried in the landfill, don't actually biodegrade. If I was using recycled plastic bags, I'd at least be creating a market for a waste product that isn't going anywhere anytime soon (and paying a lot less per bag, as it turns out).

[nancypants]

Elephant bladders. They are washable and biodegradable, doncha know! http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/posiepie/ROFL.gif

[melissel]

Elephant bladders. They are washable and biodegradable, doncha know! http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/posiepie/ROFL.gif

Dude. I TOTALLY thought you were serious there for a minute. :eek::D

[*anj*]

Elephant bladders. They are washable and biodegradable, doncha know! http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/posiepie/ROFL.gif

Yeah, but Nan...
Where do you put the rest of the elephant after you take out the bladder?
And, I mean, do you have a good source for elephants in bulk?
I don't know....can I make something out of the trunk too?

You're a nut!!! http://www.pic4ever.com/images/SEVeyesB08_th.gif (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/%5Bimg%5Dhttp://www.pic4ever.com/images/SEVeyesB08_th.gif%5B/img%5D)

Oh, and Melissa,
I'm interested in this too.
This week we are using grocery store bags for trash. I've never used them exclusively before, so we're doing this on a trial basis. But if you end up springing for the biodegradable ones and you want to buy them in bulk and we'd get a good price, I might want to split them with you. Lemme know!

[Colleen]

What would be better--biodegradable bags or recycled plastic bags?

Biodegradable bags, in my opinion. Plastic bags are originally manufactured using polyethylene, and the recycling process itself requires significant resources.

From what I've read, the biodegradable bags, once buried in the landfill, don't actually biodegrade.

Have you read the information re rate of decomposition on the Biobag site? In a controlled composting environment, they'll decompose in 10-45 days. In a natural setting (open/turned landfill), they'll decompose at a rate comparable to other naturally biodegradable materials (e.g. leaves, food waste). As with all materials, the rate of decomposition will be slowed in an air-locked landfill. Still, I prefer Biobags because their manufacturing process places far less stress on the environment than does the creation and recycling of standard plastic bags.