The Best Biodegradable and Compostable Trash Bags
Using plastic bags is an ecological disaster, it takes about 1,000 years for one to degrade in a landfill (and even then, it leaves behind microplastics that can add toxins to soil or water). Fortunately, there are biodegradable trash bags. Studies have shown they break down in less than six months — a remarkable improvement and a category of products worth your consideration.
And when you choose the best biodegradable trash bags, there is no need to sacrifice in quality or durability, either. The plant-based trash bags featured here can handle weight, resist punctures, and help collect and transport trash as well as conventional plastic garbage bags. While being biodegradable is naturally the unifying factor here, beyond that we looked for the best biodegradable trash bags for kitchens, for offices or bathrooms, for yard waste, and more.
But before we talk trash bags, let’s talk science for a moment more, because what these bags are made of on a truly compositional level counts. It’s important to look for bioplastic bags made of plant-based and renewable materials, like corn, grains, sugarcane, starches, and vegetable oils. “It’s good to know the difference between these biodegradable bags and bags made of petrochemical-based plastic — which are usually found in the supermarket and marketed as ‘ecofriendly,’”
Best overall biodegradable trash bags
These bags are primarily “made of corn and plant starch,” and when he tested how quickly one broke down by placing one in a compost pile at his own home, it decomposed far faster than bags from common plastic trash bags over the course of a multi-week test in mild weather conditions.
Best (less-expensive) overall biodegradable trash bags
Best home compostable trash bags
Certified Compostable Garbage/Trash Bags for a Greener Home
We generate a lot of waste every day. A study published by the Environmental Protection Agency states that an average American generates roughly a little more than 4 pounds of trash each day and 1.5 tons of solid waste in a year. That’s a lot of trash, and to dispose of this trash, we need trash bags. This might be a problem for eco-conscious consumers as most of the trash bags available in the market till now were made of plastic, a major environmental threat.
But we have an alternative now! Compostable trash bags can be composted or sent to the composting facility, where they can degrade and not threaten the environment. Our research team has curated a list of the top 9 certified compostable garbage bags and has got you covered! Explore the advantages of using compostable trash bags, a key solution in eco-friendly waste management, and understand their role in fostering a more sustainable planet.
These compostable garbage bags make a brilliant choice for your kitchen countertop bin or restaurants, as they come in varied sizes. Plus, they come with certified frustration-free packaging. Approved by Compost Manufacturing Alliance, they are compatible with backyard compost systems and are manufactured using resin imported from Italy.
Certified compostable in the US and Europe, these are perfect compostable garbage bags to handle your trash mess-free. They also come in varied sizes depending on your needs and can be composted in your backyard. They have a high biobased content, thus making them durable, non-toxic, and good for the environment.
Compostable garbage bags come in varied sizes and fit most tall compost bins. These are certified and can be composted in your backyard or an industrial facility, ideally turning into rich humus in 90 days. Made from plant-based material, these bags are environmentally friendly and a good choice for moving towards a zero-waste lifestyle.
If you’re looking for compostable garbage bags that are durable, then StarsPacking is your best bet. These certified bags are extra durable and made using bio-based materials like corn starch. They are said to be ideal for home as well as industrial compost facilities and turn into water, carbon dioxide, and humus in about 6-12 months.
Plastic trash bags are generally polyethylene bags, meaning they’re made with fossil fuels, take hundreds of years to decompose, and release harmful microplastics as they do.
While that white, black, or even vanilla-scented trash bag might make trash day a little less cringe-worthy, it’s also sending our planet to the landfill.
Fortunately, there’s been an explosion of biodegradable and compostable bags on the market recently.
Is there such a thing as an eco-friendly trash bag?
When it comes to trash bags, there’s plenty of confusing verbiage. Compostable? Biodegradable? Bags with post-consumer recycled content? While one could certainly make the argument that biodegradable and compostable trash bags aren’t worth the money since they’re headed to the landfill anyway (those pits aren’t vegetable gardens, after all); the more cynical amongst us could say there’s no such thing as an eco-friendly trash bag if it holds bad-for-the-planet waste.
The goal is certainly to reduce the amount of trash sent to the landfill each week, but the reality is that most of us generate waste. And while purchasing eco-friendly trash bags doesn’t give us carte blanche to throw away as much as we want, buying the right bags is a simple and accessible lifestyle switch.
The best part? There are plenty of bags on the market that are strong, easy to use, and eco-friendly.
