As more people look for ways to live more sustainably and in a way that is better for the environment, the number of biodegradable garbage bags has exploded in recent years.
If you’re searching for a way to line your compost bins for convenient transport to a composting facility or an alternative to your standard plastic trash bag, use biodegradable garbage bags the next time.
Every year, Americans use around 100 billion plastic bags, which need nearly 12 million barrels of oil to produce. Given that 1,900,000 plastic groceries, rubbish, and other bags were recovered during the 2018 International Coastal Cleanup, it is necessary to switch to reusable grocery bags and biodegradable garbage bags.
This blog post will look at what a biodegradable garbage bag is and the eight best brands in the market. Continue reading.
What Is A Biodegradable Garbage Bag?
Biodegradable garbage bags are made from bioplastics and help trash break down more quickly in landfills.
Even though these aren’t the answer to the problem because they have some plastic in them, they’re a step in the right direction toward using the more eco-friendly product in everyday life.
To get rid of all plastic, you should choose compostable trash bags made from natural plant starch.
Our list of the best biodegradable garbage bags will help you figure out what to look for. However, before we go into the list, let’s see why it is necessary to switch from plastic trash bags to biodegradable trash bags.
Best 8 Biodegradable Garbage Bags
Below is a list of the eight best biodegradable garbage bags.
1. UNNI garbage bags
Because they can be composted and broken down completely, UNNI garbage bags are the best choice. The bags are also BPA-free and have been approved by the Biodegradable Products Institute and OK Compost Home.
They are made entirely of cornstarch and other plant starches and have no polyethylene. In 180 days, the bags will break down into CO2 and O2, and other organic compounds. The brand also makes drawstrings and small trash bags for pet waste and composting at home.
2. BioBag Compostable Countertop Food Waste Bags
BioBag Compostable Countertop Food Scrap Bags are made of a bioplastic resin blend called Mater-Bi®.
This blend uses non-genetically modified plant-based materials like corn starch and various biodegradable/compostable polymers. BioBags has promised to make its products with as many renewable materials as possible.
Its bags are made in the U.S. with resin from Italy. They come in a small box made of cardboard that can be recycled after it has been used.
3. Reli Biodegradable Garbage Bag
The bright green Reli biodegradable trash bags have been used and trusted for more than 30 years. They are made to be easy to use and last a long time.
They are made of a high-density blend of plant-based materials and EPI chemical additives. The bottoms are star-sealed to keep them from breaking.
People with access to a composting facility can buy bags from this company. The 13-gallon bags come in a small cardboard box that can be recycled.
4. STOUT by Envision EcoSafe-6400 Compostable Bags
The Stout by Envision Compostable Bags is a good combination of size and ease of use. They can hold 30 gallons of trash and are strong enough at 1.1mm to not tear or leak.
Also, they meet the ASTM D6400 standard, which means they can be composted and broken down in a compost facility.
5. GreFusion Garbage bags
No matter what size you choose, the trash bags from GreFusion are a great way to save money. Each box of bags under 18 gallons comes with more than 100 bags, so you can buy a lot of them without spending much money.
The different sizes are especially helpful because you can find smaller bags for kitchen trash, bigger bags for yard trash, and so on. They are a good choice for people who don’t want to spend much money on good compostable trash bags.
6. AYOTEE Biodegradable Garbage Bags
These biodegradable trash bags from AYOTEE come in different sizes, from small 1.2-gallon bags to huge 15-gallon bags. So there are several great options if you need something small but still big enough to hold a lot of trash. They’re also very cheap, and each box has more than 100 bags.
7. Repurpose Compostable Garbage Bag
Not every home needs a big 13-gallon trash bag to throw away their trash. Thanks to Repurpose, their larger compostable bags also come in 3-gallon sizes. The only big difference between them is their size.
Other than that, they have all the same good things to say about the 13-gallon bag. This includes both the star-sealed bottom and the packaging that can be recycled. They are also Lomi-approved and, like the larger version, can be broken down in the device.
8. ANECO 100% Compostable Garbage Bags
All materials used to make ANECO’s compostable trash bags are plastic-free. In addition, they come in a few sizes, like 2.6 and 3 gallons, which are better for single users or small families.
There are 100 bags in each box, making them some of the cheapest compostable trash bags you can buy. These bags will hold your trash until it’s time to change them.
Why You Should Switch To Biodegradable Garbage Bags
According to the Center for Biological Diversity, it takes a plastic bag 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill. When bags break down, they can release chemicals and tiny pieces of plastic into the environment.
It’s hard to give up plastic completely, but we can take simple steps to help the environment by switching to products like biodegradable garbage bags.
Even though biodegradable and compostable plastics take long to break down in a landfill than in the open air, they can still be better for the environment than regular plastic bags.
Here are some reasons why you might want to switch from plastic trash bags to ones that are better for the environment:
1. Fewer Green House Emission
Because the plants that biodegradable bags are made from (corn or sugarcane) take in carbon while growing, they release less carbon dioxide over time.
This makes up for the carbon they give off when they break down. One study found that switching to bioplastics made from corn could cut greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by up to 25%.
2. Decompose Faster
In the right conditions, biodegradable and compostable garbage bags decompose up to 1,000 times faster than regular trash bags. Biodegradable bags start to break down when they come in contact with water or organisms like bacteria and fungi.
Compostable bags break down faster than regular bags, but they usually need a lot of heat to break down, so they should be taken to a commercial composting facility to be thrown away.
3. Don’t turn into tiny plastics
Biodegradable garbage bags completely break down. But, most importantly, they don’t break down into tiny pieces of plastic as regular bags do.
Microplastics get into our bodies and cause health problems over time, so using biodegradable bags is a much better choice.
What Materials Are Used in Biodegradable Garbage Bags?
Biodegradable plastic is made from materials that can be grown again, like crops. But unfortunately, biodegradable plastic is sometimes made from things that can no longer be recycled or trash that can no longer be recycled.
This is different from crude oil-based plastics that break down over time. Garbage bags that break down naturally are made of bioplastics. Biopolymers make up bioplastics and break down faster than biobased plastics.
People think biodegradable trash bags are better for the environment because plastic breaks down faster. Biodegradable trash bags are made of things that decompose into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass.
The problem with biodegradable materials is that they need to be very hot to break down. So for biodegradable materials to break down, they must be exposed to very high temperatures, which they don’t always get in a landfill.
Unless they go to an industrial facility, this can make the biodegradable trash bags last longer than they say they will.
How to Choose a Biodegradable Garbage Bag?
Different kinds of biodegradable trash bags are made by different companies and have different features. Based on this, it’s safe to assume that not all biodegradable trash bags can break down in a reasonable amount of time.
So, if you want your switch from regular plastic bags to biodegradable bags to count, you’ll need to think about several things, such as:
a. Durability
Even though these bags break down faster than regular plastic ones, that doesn’t mean they should be weaker.
It’s important to be efficient, and a good biodegradable trash bag should be able to carry as much weight, if not more, than a regular plastic bag.
b. Decomposition rate
The decomposition rate tells you how long it takes for trash bags from a certain company to break down.
This is important to consider when choosing trash bags that are good for the environment. A good bag that breaks down can take anywhere from 6 months to a year.
c. Certifications
The Biodegradable Products Institute checks to see if trash bags can break down. A product with a BPI certification meets the requirements of ASTM D6400 and ASTM D6868.
Biodegradable plastic bags that come in small, recyclable packages shows that the company cares about the environment.
4. Customers review
Customer reviews are the best way to judge any product or company. How other people who care about the environment feel about the company and the biodegradable trash bag can help you make your final choice.
Now that we’ve known things to look out for when choosing biodegradable garbage bags, let’s go on to the list of best biodegradable garbage bags available in the market.
Also read: Best 10 Eco-friendly Trash Bags
Conclusion
Plastic pollution is a big problem. If we don’t do something about it, it will worsen.
This is why biodegradable garbage bags are so important: they help reduce the number of plastic in our landfills and oceans.
Look for trash bags that are better for the environment when shopping. There are many good choices, so you have no reason not to do your part.
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