The Right Trash Bag Can Help Lower Solid Waste Prodution
Posted on September 30th, 2009 by ConcordSupplies.com
Everyone is concerned with being “green” these days. The US EPA’s statistics show the US leading the industrialized world in municipal solid waste generation, followed by Canada and The Netherlands. One popular way to reduce the production of solid waste is to recycle. Another simple way is to choose the right trash bag for the task at hand.
There are several things to consider when choosing a trash bag.
- Do you really need an actual trash bag? Lots of people make a big deal out of reusable bags. There are definite benefits to these, but there are also reasons to not use them. Paper grocery sacks or empty boxes can easily serve as holding receptacles for recyclables such as newspapers, and plastic shopping bags can be used for wet garbage, or to hold laundry on a vacation. While reusable bags definitely reduce waste, reusing bags you get in other situations can help as well.
- What are you going to be throwing out? Something that is soft and flexible, such as old clothing or bedding, might be able to go in a thinner bag than something with sharp edges or corners, such as boxes or books. Check the packaging to see what mil the bags are. The higher the number, the thicker/stronger the bag.
- Is a less expensive bag really a savings? Cheap trash bags are no bargain if they split open on the way to the garbage can and leave a mess. If you need to use more bags to dispose of the same amount of garbage, you may end up spending more in the long run.
- What size receptacle will you be using? A 30-gallon trash bag is overkill if you’re using it to line a desk side waste can. Try a kitchen trash bag instead.
- Does that really need to be thrown out, or can it be recycled in some way? Remember your three r’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. If composting is an option, try that to reduce the amount of food waste. Likewise, if old clothing or furniture is still in good shape, consider donating it to a charity, or selling it at a garage sale.
- Don’t forget to check for recycled or biodegradable trash bags. Both are available, helping to reduce the long-term build up of solid waste.
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