Everything You Need To Know To Find The Best Biodegradable Trash Bags 5 Gallon

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.

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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. Lyall Mabin, co-founder of sustainable tips site Sustainable Jungle, says 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,’” Mabin says. “These degrade into microplastics faster, so it’s really just greenwashing.”

Mabin of Sustainable Jungle says these UNNI 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 four other brands over the course of a multi-week test in mild weather conditions. At 13 gallons in capacity, these bags are the perfect size for the average kitchen trash can and can also be used in compost bins or compost piles. And at 50 bags for less than $20, they’re a great price, too.

We’re happy to report that these low-cost biodegradable trash bags (they cost just 37 cents per bag) are produced by a company with genuine devotion to sustainability. Yehudis Gottesfeld, an engineer with sustainable supply-chain company Materia USA, says, “HippoSak reports that their manufacturing process uses renewable energy and reports the reduction of their CO2 emissions.” She adds that this company uses “plant-based materials in the manufacturing of their bags,” so these are legitimately biodegradable, not merely quickly degrading plastic bags. And as for performance, these standard 13-gallon trash bags are rugged and reliable, resisting leaks or tears, and they have built-in handles for easy carrying or tying off.

According to Rebecca Gade Sawicki, author and founder of vegan travel site Veggies Abroad, “Many consumers don’t realize that most compostable bags are only compostable in commercial settings, not your backyard compost pile.” That’s because the heat and pressure needed to break down these bags quickly is never present in such settings. That’s where HoldOn is different; its bags are certified for home composting. At first, Sawicki was skeptical of this claim, even with the certification, but she put a bag in her home compost pile and “after about ten days, it was nearly gone,” she says. HoldOn uses sugar and/or corn-derived polymers and corn starch to create its trash bags, which are as durable as any other trash bag, but are also safe for the environment and suitable for home composting.

Sustainable Jungle’s Mabin says these bags from Primode are “made of plants and vegetables and not much more,” adding that they are certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute, a nonprofit that prides itself on being “North America’s leading authority on compostable products and packaging.” Primode offers many biodegradable trash bags, but these, the company’s small three-gallon bags, are a great size for daily kitchen waste — both for the food scraps sent to the backyard compost pile or for everyday trash — or for lining smaller trash cans such as those in an office or bathroom. The 100-count box you get also means a great value.

These biodegradable trash bags are marketed for composting food scraps and will fit perfectly into many countertop compost bins. Materia USA’s Gottesfeld says they are made with “plant-based materials” and are fully compostable. They’re also a great size for the smaller- to medium-size waste baskets around the house or in the office, and, for more traditional trash, you can count on them to support plenty of weight and resist punctures or leaks.

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These large 48-gallon biodegradable trash bags are big enough for use in outdoor trash cans. Sustainable Jungle’s Mabin says that they are made from plant-based bioplastics, like corn starch, and biodegradable polymers. While pricey, at more than a dollar per bag, these large, durable trash bags can handle up to 20 pounds of garbage. Just remember that, like all biodegradable bags, they will start to break down within days when filled with organic materials, especially in warmer conditions — if filled with nonorganic materials, like plastics and shredded papers and such, they will retain their integrity much longer.

Tapix Lawn And Leafs Bags $21 for 8 $21 for 8

I’m my own home’s lawn guy, and I try to be green in lawn care. One way I do this is to use biodegradable bags to collect grass trimmings and raked leaves and debris, because these bags allow this organic material to break down and become exposed to air, releasing CO2. Which is better than what happens to yard waste that breaks down in plastic bags that block air: Then it produces methane, a greenhouse gas more than 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. Sturdy and durable enough to hold many pounds of organic detritus, and able to withstand punctures from thorns and smaller brambles, these have been my go-to lawn bags for the better part of five years, and I’ve yet to have one fail me.

I’ve spent the last several years enthusiastically making swaps to reduce waste in my daily routine. I bought a composter and now diligently collect food scraps in a container on the counter. I purchased reusable cleaning spray bottles, dryer balls, and silicone food storage containers. I swapped out my incandescent lightbulbs for LED and began growing and drying herbs for cooking and tea. But for all these small but valuable steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle, none has quite been as—uh—challenging as the search for biodegradable garbage bags that are both rip-proof and genuinely eco-friendly.

Compostable Vs. Biodegradable Garbage Bags

For starters, not all degradable trash bags are created equal—and to that end, “biodegradable” and “compostable” aren’t interchangeable terms. The term “biodegradable” is often thrown around for marketing purposes, although certain plastics are engineered to degrade in water and soil. But for a material to be deemed compostable (that is, it will degrade into soil conditioning material), it needs to be able to break down in an industrial composting facility in a relatively short amount of time. For this reason, you’ll want to look for BPI Certified Compostable bags.

Another important caveat here is that while many biodegradable or compostable bags can break down in ideal conditions, they have trouble degrading in landfills, where oxygen is scarce, and temperatures aren’t ideal for decomposition. But they still fare better than single-use plastic bags, which can take hundreds of years to decompose in any conditions—and when they do, can release microplastics into our waterways and oceans.

Making The Most of Biodegradable Garbage Bags

So, what’s the alternative? Composting at home is an option, as some (though not all) compostable bags will break down over a few months in a home compost pile or composter. I currently rely on my trusty compost tumbler to transform some of my food scraps into nutritious soil over the course of several weeks. But I’ve also been eyeing Pela’s Lomi ($499),a next-generation device that breaks down a wider variety of waste in just a matter of hours. Many cities also offer access to industrial composting facilities by way of green bins, redirecting certain waste from landfills to local parks and green spaces. You’ll just want to double-check your local guidelines on which waste is and isn’t allowed. (Animal scraps and plastics are usually no-gos.)

But now that we’ve dissected the various ins and outs of trash (I told you it was challenging!), let’s circle back to our initial dilemma: finding biodegradable garbage bags that keep the guardrails mentioned above in mind but also deliver on durability. Not an easy task when a garbage bag is literally designed for decomposition—and let’s just say I’ve been through a lot of trial and error to narrow down the list below.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Biodegradable Trash Bags 13 Gallon.