As word spreads about the necessity of caring for the environment, increasing numbers of people are committed to making more environmentally friendly choices in their lives. They are driving more fuel efficient cars, recycling at home and work, and are purchasing more “green” products that are less-toxic for the environment and their families.
How we dispose of our garbage is one area that most of us haven’t tried to change, as there are not many attractive alternatives.
Most people use trash container liners and plastic garbage bags to help contain the mess. There are a few people who are so committed to the environment they use no liners or bags at all, simply dumping the trash into their outdoor trash bin. Most of us are too squeamish about garbage for this option, but would like to find something more environmentally friendly than plastic garbage bags.
With the popularity of using paper bags for trash disposal, expect to see more products available to consumers. Ones made from post-consumer recycled paper are the ideal.
Alternatives to plastic
Making plastics is the number one use for petroleum; this in itself has led many to try to avoid plastic. It is also a toxic material and takes thousands of years to degrade, filling landfills with both its bulk and its toxins. While there is a new breed of plastic garbage bag, made from bio-based plastic and designed to decompose, these are considerably more expensive than traditional plastic bags.
Many use corn products as their base, which raises the same environmental questions as using corn for bio-diesel.
Should a food crop be utilized for purposes other than food? These new uses of corn and other food crops are believed to raise the cost of our food at a time when many are finding it difficult enough to purchase food. Another question is the logic of using arable land for making plastics and fuel rather than producing food. When you look at “green” plastics as an alternative to traditional plastics, perhaps they aren’t the best idea after all.
This brings us to the advantages of using paper garbage bags, especially ones made of recycled paper.
The arguments for paper
Although you won’t find paper garbage bags in many stores just yet, this alternative to plastic is relatively easy to find online. For your small garbage containers in the bathroom and bedrooms, waxed paper liners can be purchased online by the case. These have long been used by hospitals and other commercial enterprises and are an easy way to begin using paper garbage bags. The bags are rectangular on the bottom, so they stand nicely inside the trash container. For larger garbage containers, using paper bags from the grocery works well, as most of these are quite sturdy and stand up to a good deal of weight. One problem is they are not waxed, so wet garbage does need to be contained in something else. Not that long ago, people wrapped messy garbage in old newspapers, then threw it away.
To be sure that your paper garbage bags are made of recycled paper, buying a case of grocery-sized recycled paper bags is an economical and environmentally friendly way to dispose of your garbage. Large lawn and leaf paper bags for recycling yard wastes are relatively easy to find at hardware and home stores. These super-sized bags handle the toughest jobs. With the popularity of using paper bags for trash disposal, expect to see more products available to consumers. Ones made from post-consumer recycled paper are the ideal.
About Grace Pamer
In our place, the local government passed an order to prohibit massive use of plastic bags, instead they recommend to use paper bags even food chains are not exempted. I think this is really good to help mother nature and reduce the amount of non-biodegradable waste around the globe. The only problem was paper is made out of nature, trees to be specific.
At least the plastic bags are going. Unless the paper bags are from managed forests then there isn’t much planetary saving as you say Steve. it just means more rainforsts will disappear and illegal logging will prevail. Crazy isn’t it?
Good article Grace! It definitely makes sense that paper would be better. Unfortunately, I live in a building that forces us to use plastic bags due to the ability to tie the bags. However, we try avoid using any additional bags wherever possible. For example, we won’t use plastic bags in our study or bathrooms. We also pull out any recyclables which really limits how much trash we produce.
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Do you know what the answer is to waste food? Even if you live in an apartment? get yourself a small wormery ( its ok they are lovely and you can keep them in your airing cupboard out of site if needs be) The worms will turn your waste food into liquid feed for your plants and the rest will be nice rich compost to top your plants up or when you repot them. No more waste food sludge. ok they dont like curries and spicy stuff and onions maybe :-)
Hi Karen,
I will have to check out my local hardware store for a wormery. They sound pretty interesting. Thanks for the tip.
Dominic
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I got my wormery from http://www.originalorganics.co.uk/the-tiger-wormery.htm. They are absolutely fascinating and mine are now really getting the job done brilliantly. I think they will all start to breed very soon so it will be very exciting then. I won’t be able to remember their names by then ha ha :-)
Bless em all.
Best part is they are a great talking point. I’ve had so many friends coming to look at my wormery and a few of them have taken the plunge to get thier own too. We’re a (sad) happy lot aren’t we?
Thanks for the link Karen. I am sure the worms make a great talking point and party attraction :)
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Oh and the worms will also eat your paper bags too !
There has been already too much plastic waste materials out there as trash. We all know that plastic materials are inorganic, it would be very hard to dispose of them. Thus, using paper bags instead of plastics is truly an excellent idea.
I have been using recycled paper bags on most of my leaf jobs the last couple of years. I really like the way they stand on their own, compared to the plastic bags that you either need a holder or constantly need to hold them up. Add to that, they are environmentally friendly. They usually cost a little bit more, but I think it is well worth the price.
Paper bags maybe more difficult to use for shopping. But just consider how this little sacrifice can be of help to our environment. Another alternative is to bring your own basket/bag when buying anything. This way, we won’t accumulate so much plastics.
Thats what I do Mae. I have about nine little cloth tote bags that fold down small and these were made by fair trade and organic cotton. They can also be washed and ironed to look like new every few weeks.
Thank you for this article. Honestly, I always wondered how come companies went from paper to plastic. I still ask for paper when I can. Paper is just what I feel comfortable using too. Plus, paper bags can be used for painting, crafts, etc.
It is essential to eliminate plastic bags totally to save our mother nature! I personally avoid using the plastic bags and try to use only paper bags. It’s become a mandate at many places to use only paper bags and plastic are banned for good!
Grace- I am looking for an alternative to plastic garbage bags. Paper may be the answer, but I would like to know more about happens to the paper garbage bags once they hit the landfill. I was hoping for an alternative that would break down, but from what I’m reading online, materials placed in landfills do not always break down in that environment.
well Tim ..paper garbage bags are now recycled and not sent to landfill where they won’t rot down so quickly in anaerobic conditions. But I think the best paper bags will be compostable. In other words you can wrap them around plant bases as mulch keeping moisture in the soils. The worms will soon take them down into the soils as rich compost PERFECT
Why anyone is still using plastic bags is beyond me now. There are are so many alternatives and they are all ready available widely. Just get your self some reusable bags and keep them in your car boot or a couple tucked in your handbag. Insist that fashion stores keep their branded carrier bags until they can provide reusable washable bags.