The Best Biodegradable Trash Bags: What You Need To Know

For many people, the idea of chucking away organic waste in a regular trash bag is counterproductive. And, indeed, most of your food trash won’t biodegrade in a landfill anyway.

So whats the eco-friendly alternative?

I want to share with you a few reasons why you should swap out your regular trash bags for the more sustainable biodegradable trash bags.

I’ll also be giving you a list of the most viable alternatives to help you on you’re biodegradable trash bag journey.

What To Look For When Buying Biodegradable Trash Bags

When you are looking to buy biodegradable trash bags, there are certain things you need to look out for. Check out my list for biodegradable trash bags:

And one last thing to thinks about drawstring or handles?

Everyone has there own preferences drawstring or handles; it’s up to you. Compostable trash bags are just as versatile as the traditional plastic trash bags. So if you want drawstring, then you have an eco-friendly version out there.

What Are The Best Biodegradable Trash Bags?

Maybe you’re still struggling to make a decision, or perhaps you’re not sure where to start?

If this describes you in any way then I’m here to help. I’ve been using biodegradable and compostable trash bags for years. So I made a list of the best biodegradable garbage bags I could find:

UNNI ASTM D6400 13 Gallon

There the all-natural and ethical choice of trash bags. They start at 50 bags and finish with a 200 count. Each bag is 23.75 Inches x 29.375 Inches, with a thickness of 0.85 mils.

UNNI trash bags are BPI certified so they can get sent to commercial compost sites.

They guarantee 100% biodegradability in home composting while using the highest biobased content in plant starches.

That means no polyethylene.

The durable and non-toxic bags make the perfect alternative for your traditional kitchen trash bags.

Key Features

One person said it made them a little more aware of there trash they used. And that they worked well as a great alternative to plastic bags. The problem is they can work a little bit too well. People have complained they start to decompose when food scraps are added to the trash.

Thes big trash bags have no issue filling a 13-gallon trash bin. It’s nice to see ASTM D6400 being used as a highly biodegradable plastic alternative. Although it does seem this particular brand does the job a little too well. Definitely worth thinking about your waste habits.

UNNI ASTM D6400 2.6 Gallon

These compostable trash bags are great for kitchen top compost bins.

Each bag is 16.3 inches x 16.5 inches.

The rolls contain 100 Compostable trash bags and also have a bulk buy offer of 600 trash bags.

It’s a great organic waste collection bag.

The best bit is its BPI certified for home composting.

The bags should be used within a year and kept away from excessive heat, to ensure long life.

These are ideal kitchen trash bags for any home.

Key Features

Most reviews said how great the bin liner worked for as a counter-top compost bin. The bag was durable and saved them having to clean the container too often. But again, they did say it works a little too well. You have about two days before the food scraps start to degrade the trash bags.

It’s nice to have small compostable bags. I hate having to clean the food waste container in my kitchen. Having small bags like this really makes the difference. But, unless you go through a lot of food waste, then these trash bags aren’t for you. They’ll dissolve by the time you fill it.

Primode 13 Gallon

Primode is guaranteed to be compostable. Each roll has 50 trash bags and is 23.8 inches x 29.4 inches.

For extra strength, the trash bag is 0.87 mm thick.

The eco-friendly trash bags are made with corn and vegetable plastic, which is certified by BPI-ASTM D6400.

Their compostable trash bags can decompose in a home compost setting.

As the bags decompose, they leave nutrient-rich minerals, water, and Co2.

The compostable bags can fit in most tall bins and make a great alternative to plastic bags.

Key Features

One customer said they fit well in his bin and had plenty left over to fold over the top. They were also delighted with how durable the bags were. You could hold plenty of trash, and it showed no signs of tearing. The main is when your storing wet food, although it tends to leak.

Overall the compostable trash bag is an excellent size and very durable. But, it’s a shame about the problem with the leaking. The plant-based plastic can’t be home composted, so make sure you check there’s a commercial composting scheme in your area.

Inwaysin 13 Gallon

Inwaysin makes all of its compostable trash bags with raw materials.

They use plant starch as a new type of PSM.

Which means is can biodegrade without leaving any traces.

Each roll comes with 75 kitchen trash bags and comes in a pack of five.

Each one of their waste bags is a massive 24.8 inches x 31.5 inches, with a thickness of 1 mill.

The waste bags are a lot stronger than your average compostable garbage bags.

Key Features

It was there first time using compostable trash bags and were very pleased with how well they performed. It didn’t have a plastic bag smell and felt very eco-friendly. They were also thrilled that garbage bags didn’t seem to leak or look like they would.

Inwaysin makes some solid, durable bags that can hold well over 13 gallons of trash. A contender for any kitchen draw. I do have some worries about the materials. It says it their compostable bags, but it also claims to be bioplastics. It’s just something to think about.

Why Use Biodegradable Trash Bags?

Let’s start with; they are better for the environment than your regular trash bag. At least biodegradable bags break down eventually.

But, biodegradable trash bags still have their own issues when buried under piles of trash. The problem is the trash bags don’t get subjected to the right conditions; this includes:

After tons of waste getting piled on top of your biodegradable trash bag, it’s doubtful it will ever decompose.

And that’s why looking for trash bags that are biodegradable and compostable is the best option.

The compostable trash bags break down a lot easier than standard biodegradable trash bags. And they don’t leave toxins behind. Which, unfortunately, some biodegradable bin bags do.

Anyway, mixing organic food waste with plastic seems stupid. We all have the opportunity to home compost, why mix great compost with plastic?

And if you can’t home compost, then commercial composting sites can take care of the waste; but you’ll need to get compostable bags. If you don’t, it’s likely it will just end up being sent to the landfill.

In 2015, it’s thought over 40 million tons of food waste was generated, and 76% got sent to landfill sites. That makes up for around 22% of all discarded waste. The worst thing is all this organic, compostable, and biodegradable trash is likely to stay there forever.

They think 1/3 of all food gets wasted, which let’s face it, is a problem in itself, but it’s having harmful effects on landfill sites too. You might think it doesn’t, but it does.

The biodegradable waste isn’t subjected to the right conditions needed to decompose, so we start to see an increase in methane gas.

This is why we need to start composting and using biodegradable bags. It will help to lower the effects the greenhouse gases are having on the planet.

What Are Biodegradable Trash Bags Made Of?

Biodegradable trash bags can be from various materials. The problem is some biodegradable trash bags use petrochemicals, which makes them no better than regular trash bags.

Which is another reason I like to go for biodegradable and compostable trash bags.

Compostable bags break down much quicker because there made with cornstarch or potato starch. So no petrochemicals and no harming the environment.

However:

When choosing a biodegradable bag, there are a few things you need to watch for. There are so many products out there that sound biodegradable, but that doesn’t mean they are. Make sure you watch out for these:

As you can see, these products definitely sound better for the environment, but they are doubtful ever to decompose.

How Long Do Biodegradable Trash Bags Take To Decompose?

It’s not known precisely and heavily depends on the brand and the conditions it’s subjected too. But, they do think around three to six months to decompose fully.

But, if you’re not careful with what brand of trash bags your use. There’s a chance you might find it’s no better for the environment than regular trash bags.

Look for trash bags that are compostable and biodegradable. When exposed to moisture, they start to break down, and they don’t leave pieces of plastic behind.

How quickly compostable trash bags take to decompose depends on:

So if you are looking for new kitchen trash bags, make sure you go biodegradable and compostable!

Summary

So remember, there are a few things you need to look out for before choosing your compostable trash bags. First, the most effective material is ASTM D6400; it degrades the quickest and leaves no traces.

Secondly, think about how many compostable bags you’re likely to go through; if you use a lot, why not bulk buy? It will save money and time.

Some compostable trash bags are scented, so if you want your kitchen smelling a little fresher, then it’s an excellent option for you.

Durability is a massive factor with compostable bags, they’re notoriously thin. Having a bag split in your kitchen is a nightmare. Choose a nice durable bag to avoid this horrible situation.

Lastly, think about the size. Nothing grinds my gears more than a poorly fitted bin bag. Check the manufacturer’s sizes and try to match it to your bin.

If you liked this kitchen bin episode or if you have any questions, please comment below. And please don’t forget to share it, lets cut down on plastic trash together.

Do you want to lower your carbon footprint and cut down on more plastic? Take a look at my article about the best reusable grocery bags.