Comments on: Eco-Friendly Garbage Bags

By: Bill Brikiatis

Bill Brikiatis — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:23:43 +0000

Your article raises important concerns about compostable packaging. I’d like to mention that although Frito-lay and other companies suggest that we compost their packaging, it’s not a good idea if you are an organic gardener. Compostable packaging is often made from a polyester derived from corn and other plants. These plants are grown with synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Organic gardeners shouldn’t put them in their compost piles.
Bill Brikiatis’s last post … Composting Compostable Packaging

By: Edwige

Edwige — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:35:37 +0000

Oxo-biodegradable bags also are a good alternative.

From what I’ve read on the subject, during the manufacturing process, an oxo-boiodegradable additive is used. This additive is blended into the plastic during the extrusion process, so, it is less harmful for the environment.

I personally like the brand EconoGreen from Jig-A-Loo, the company I represent. Their new line of plastic bags are made from 100% recycled plastic, are 100% oxodegradable and 100% recyclable. So it is a good thing to do, as grocery plastic bags can’t be having the same technology…

You can get more info about EconoGreen there: http://www.jigaloo.com/ca/e_products_econogreen.php

By: Nicole

Nicole — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:37:30 +0000

Hello everyone,

I saw the comments about going green and being more environmentally friendly. I think it is great that so many people are waking up to the fact that the planet is in trouble and that we need to act now in order to help. I think with global warming creeping up on us, I think it is very important that we become more aware of trying to lower our carbon emissions, and try and do right by the planet. I think we can all do our little bit extra to try and help! At home I always shut the computer down rather than putting it to sleep, and always turn off electrics rather than leave them on stand by. These tips may seem small, but if everyone pulled together then I think we could really make a difference to the world. Another hint I have is that I now use e-Cards rather than buying paper cards. Not only are you saving money if you choose a free site, but more importantly, you are helping the environment by saving paper, and therefore less trees need to be chopped down! I have done my research and finally found the best free Environmentally Friendly e-Card site. It is really easy to use, which is great if like me you are not very good with computers! I really like this particular site as there is just so much choice. I know e-Cards are not for everyone but think of the environment it really is a great way to help out and do your bit! Kind Regards, Nic.

By: Kirsten

Kirsten — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:46:19 +0000

I was so impressed when I visited Toronto a couple years ago and saw what an amazing array of stuff went into their green bins. Everything that could remotely be composted went into there, including fats, papers, meat waste, and animal waste. The bins had lids, and the city garbage truck picked the things up with a big claw so the sanitation workers didn’t have to lift/touch the things. The landfill reduction from that strategy must be immense.

I wonder sometimes if a bin system would be a general boon to landfill handling, and to plastic reduction. Recycling and composting bins, but also bins for pure garbage. Think of it — we would all keep a garbage pail in our houses, it would get emptied into a (secured against animals) big bin, which is collected by the machinery of the city. No plastic used to transport the garbage from house to bin, no plastic encasing our garbage in the landfills and preventing even what waste degradation is possible in that circumstance.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:16:33 +0000

Great post, and great question. We are also never sure how to handle this one. We are almost always out of plastic bags these days, and I am so embarrassed to admit that I use the *same* plastic bag to pick up my dog’s poop on our walks and then I clean it and reuse it. My family is disgusted with me!! Thankfully we’ve gotten garbage down to a bare minimum, although like you, I’m still torn over the garbage bag issue.

By: pomomama aka ebbandflo

pomomama aka ebbandflo — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 18:19:54 +0000

it certainly is a conundrum. we re-use the plastic grocery bags for kitchen trash, and yes we do run out sometimes when i’ve been super-organised with the re-usable bags. if i see we’re running low then my next grocery shop is without the reusables. ‘fancy’ plastic bags get recycled for sports equipment or gifting or as packaging for my craft business (for which i also reuse shipping materials – no complaints so far, even in person for larger items at craft fairs – i love the paper bags which starbucks hands out).
i think we all do what we can and slowly, surely increase what we can too (especially by reading how other inspirational people are managing to do it too!)

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 15:38:32 +0000

I’m waiting for a good solution to this myself!

At the moment I use cloth bags to shop, and I recycle the pastic bags that my husband brings home from the store. I buy Kirkland Kitchen Bags (they’re plastic) for garbage, but I do everything I can to avoid garbage. I recycle, compost and garburate everything that I can.

Still, every trash bag that gets discarded is one more in the landfill. What to do, what to do? Great post

By: Lady M

Lady M — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 06:03:31 +0000

I’ve been in the same boat with running out of supermarket bags that we use to line trash bins. I carefully folded away my plastic bags from regular shopping for years, so I’m still working my way through those – they are all different sizes, so it takes longer to find ones that fit, but we have plastic for a while yet. Not sure what we’ll do after that.

I read an alarming piece of news today that the price of recycled material has plummeted, which means that many cities are having trouble funding their programs.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 21:28:24 +0000

When you start looking at problems through a causal loop framework you realize there just aren’t any perfect answers. Like you mentioned, corn based bags are biodegradable but they turn valuable food into trash bags, which means someone, somewhere is going without nutrition so we can take out our garbage.

You can’t package medicines in biodegradable packaging because of security risks. Remember the Tylenol tampering of the early 80’s?

We can all start composting our own waste. Perfect, except people in condo’s don’t have access to a composter. No problem, we’ll make apartment sized ones out of plastic. Oh, producing plastic consumes a lot of energy (and water) and that energy is provided by a coal burning plant. So if we make composters to reduce waste it comes at the expense of the air…oh.

We have to recycle. We have to conserve water. This is where I get really confused; we must clean our recyclables using clean, drinkable water. What’s more important; conserving clean water or recycling packaging?

There are no easy answers or solutions.

By: Katie

Katie — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:38:16 +0000

I think about this topic all the time. Martin’s grandma had hundreds of little garbage bags in her basement, so we’ve been using some of those for months now. I keep trying to figure out what we should do when we run out. It’s always so tricky, so I’m glad to hear you’re in the same boat. Sorry I don’t have a solution or even suggestion yet… I hope a future commenter can.
Katie