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trash bags

post #1 of 10
6/28/08 at 7:51am
Thread Starter 
I am sure something like this has been discussed before, but the search function is disabled so I can't find anything. I am trying hard these days to reduce. Right now, I am in the process of making some reusable grocery bags out of old clothes I have around the house. I am also making reusable produce bags. When I am done with this, I see no more plastic bags coming into the house. Right now, we use the plastic bags to line the little trash cans in the bathrooms. What do you use to line your little trash cans? I realize we could just not line them, but then I guess I would have to wash them. Not the worst thing in the world, but I am just wondering if there is another option. Also, what do you use in place of a tall kitchen garbage bag?

Thanks!

Beth

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post #2 of 10
6/28/08 at 8:43am
:

Looking for ideas too. Bonus points to the poster who has an idea where I'm not washing the cans all the time.
post #3 of 10
6/28/08 at 11:23am
I don't have a solution for the tall bags, but for the small cans, you could always go to the local grocery store and take the plastic bags that other people recycle. That way, you're not "culpable" for taking new plastic bags. You can't really recycle those plastic bags that other people have used into anything useful anyway, so you might as well recycle them into your trash bags!
post #4 of 10
6/28/08 at 11:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by blairhoney View Post
I don't have a solution for the tall bags, but for the small cans, you could always go to the local grocery store and take the plastic bags that other people recycle. That way, you're not "culpable" for taking new plastic bags. You can't really recycle those plastic bags that other people have used into anything useful anyway, so you might as well recycle them into your trash bags!
Yeah that! I also use plastic produce bags too!
post #5 of 10
6/28/08 at 6:04pm
I don't line the small cans (like in a bathroom or bedroom). If they get dirty, I wash them.
post #6 of 10
6/28/08 at 6:45pm
You could line the small ones with newspaper.
post #7 of 10
6/28/08 at 9:36pm
you can always just use plastic bags that come with stuff that you buy for your trash. There are always some kind of plastic thingy that you can stuff your trash into.

I am trying for zero trash, but I buy too much processed food. If you squeeze and flatten your trash into one of the good flex 30 gallon kind, you can get a lot in there.

A trash compactor would take paper bags, but they cost about $250 and I have not gotten one. I just stomp on my trash.
post #8 of 10
6/29/08 at 11:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by blairhoney View Post
...You can't really recycle those plastic bags that other people have used into anything useful anyway...
Au contraire! People are crafting w/those plastic grocery sacks! This is one of my favorite items so far http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...ng_id=11747166

Anyway, carry on... I'm interested to hear what other people are doing for their trash bags too
I currently use paper grocery bags under the sink cuz they're usually made of post consumer waste and will biodegrade sometime in the next century as opposed to plastic, that's why I switched. I'm still not thrilled w/using paper b/c of the tree cutting down factor even if it's sustainably harvested and all that, but haven't come up w/a better solution. Since we compost and recycle there's not a whole lot of trash especially of the leaky variety, wish I could be trash free...
We don't line the desk and bathroom trash cans anymore and they only seem to need washing a few times a year...? It's not bad.
post #9 of 10
6/30/08 at 4:09pm
We keep our big trashcan outside and don't line it. That way it doesn't really need cleaning often if at all. The other trashcans are for paper type goods (which later get recycled) so theres no problem if they aren't lined. Not having trash contained in plastic bags helps the decomposition of whatever is in your trash that can decompose.
post #10 of 10
6/30/08 at 10:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by happyhats View Post
We keep our big trashcan outside and don't line it. That way it doesn't really need cleaning often if at all. The other trashcans are for paper type goods (which later get recycled) so theres no problem if they aren't lined. Not having trash contained in plastic bags helps the decomposition of whatever is in your trash that can decompose.
This is why I love MDC. I am always learning. Since we started composting all of our garbage is dry. I have been using the grocery bags DH brings home because he can never remember to take the cloth ones into the store : Anyways my garbage is not moist because all the food scraps are in the compost now. I don't use a garbage bag in my big outside garbage can and now that I am thinking about it, I have no need for one in my little kitchen one either!

From now on I'll be taking my extra bags to the stores downtown to be reused.

Thanks happyhats!

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