Biodegradable plastic is a synthetic substance that can be disposed of naturally, usually from the consumption of microorganisms or natural erosion. Using them is a great way to reduce dependence on plastics that are harmful to the environment. Plastic that isn’t biodegradable is one of the world’s leading pollutants and accounts for a considerable amount of man-made litter in the ocean. Add to the amount of time it takes the material to fully decompose and you’re looking at an ongoing world crisis. To put things into perspective, it can take anywhere from ten to one-thousand years for plastic bags to fully disintegrate in the environment. In order to minimize pollution, the following six biodegradable and compostable plastic bags are highly recommended for all consumers. And when you’re done, don’t forget to read the Buyers Guide for additional time-saving info to help you purchase successfully. The best products from the list are declared at the end.
Top 6 Best Biodegradable & Compostable Trash Bags Reviewed
| Product | Capacity | Certification | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNNI Compostable Trash Bags | 2.6 gallons/9.8 Liters | 100/200/600 | BPI and ASTM D6400 Compliant | Check Price |
| Green Earth Compostable Tall Kitchen Trash Bags | 13 gallons/49.2 Liters | 50/100/200 | BPI and ASTM D6400 Compliant | Check Price |
| JTSC Products Compostable Trash Bags | 13 gallons/59 Liters | 100 | OK COMPOST and ASTM D6400 Compliant | Check Price |
| EcoSafe-6400 CP1617-6 Compostable Bag | 2.5 gallons/11.3 Liters | 90 | BPI and ASTM D6400 Compliant | Check Price |
| Bag-To-Nature Compostable Bag And Liner | 3 gallons/13.6 Liters | 100 | BPI Compliant | Check Price |
| Primode 100% Compostable Bags | 6 gallons/27.2 Liters | 50/100 | BPI and ASTM D6400 Compliant | Check Price |
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UNNI ASTM D6400 100% Compostable Trash Bags – Best Biodegradable Bags for Home Composting (Editor’s Choice)
The UNNI ASTM D6400 100% Compostable Trash Bags are durable and safe for home composting. If you see a label on the box that reads the opposite, this is a typo, as announced by the company on the product description themselves. When it arrives, you can open the packing the same you would any other box of trash bags. Just puncture a hole in the middle, and pull out bags as needed. There’s 100 in total, so you shouldn’t have to worry about buying new trash bags for a long time. And since there’s completely biodegradable, you get to feel good about throwing all of your trash out.
One bag should hold up for at least a week without premature decomposition in your trash bin, although wet object tends to make the plastic break down quicker. Try to use them in a place that’s not too humid or hot. If you insist, don’t let them sit in your bin for too long. YOu’ll risk liquid seeping through the bag, resulting in gunk at the bottom that can be quite irritating (and funky) to clean up later. Still, the UNNI bags are strong and great for beginner composters, or anyone that has their trash picked up from a city/country that can properly dispose of it. Give them a try.- Although not stated, the bags can be used for home composting if needed
- The boxed packaging can be opened in a way that makes the bag’s storage easier (cut out)
- Can last up to a week without premature breakdown
- Must be used quickly if lots of food if lots of wet food is placed inside the bags
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Green Earth Compostable Tall Kitchen Trash Bags – Best Biodegradable Bags for General Trash (People’s Choice)
The Green Earth Compostable Tall Kitchen Trash Bags are green-tinted (just like the name) and very strong. In fact, they’re so strong that you might get rid of your old trash bags entirely. And unlike some filmy biodegradable bags, these will never leak at the bottom. Don’t be afraid to double bag if you must, however. People that use them in hot conditions may need to do this more than others. Still, liquids shouldn’t perforate or seep through anything, even if you leave the bag in your trash for longer than two or three days.Ripping also won’t occur, either when you open the bag up from the roll or tie it along the lip of your trash bin. None of the bags have a drawstring, something that you complicate matters if you’re accustomed to using bags that have the featured. As stated, you’ll have to hook rig it to your bin the old fashioned way. But if this doesn’t bother you, then these Green Earth trash bags are a great product, helping your home become greener in the process.
- Strong enough to use as a substitute (or replacement) to ordinary trash bags
- Liquids don’t cause the plastic to break down faster than what’s needed
- Doesn’t rip easily
- Doesn’t have a drawstring, resulting in the bag sliding down in a trash bin unless tied to the rim
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JTSC Products Compostable Trash Bags – Best Biodegradable Bags for Length of Use
The JTSC Products Compostable Trash Bags are built for people that like to stuff their trash bags with as much as possible. You can fit a lot in these, up to 13 gallons, in fact. The biodegradable material is very strong and keeps solids and most liquids from tearing through before it’s time to put the bag in your dumpster. If you plan on doing any composting with them, things should hold without breaking along the bottom. Durability is comparable to some ordinary trash bags, even those of a higher quality. And while it’s not recommended that you dispose of liquids with these, you might be able to get away with some things, such as old coffee grounds and other substances that aren’t entirely fluid. Try not to overstep this and you’ll never encounter any issues with seepage or leakage. Recommended for people that anticipate heavy trash and compost use.
- Most items can be placed inside without the need of double-bagging (as long as the trash isn’t too wet)
- Made from sturdy biodegradable material; feels almost identical to a normal trash bag
- Lasts much longer than ordinary trash bags that are sold in a lower quantity
- Not suitable for disposing of liquids (with some exceptions)
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EcoSafe-6400 CP1617-6 Compostable Bag – Best Leak-Resistant Biodegradable Bags
The EcoSafe-6400 CP1617-6 Compostable Bags are sold in a pack of 90, condensed into a roll that’s easy to take out when you need them. They’re leak and seep-resistant. Feel free to use them for general waste or compost. One of the best attributes for this product is its ability to remain strong in areas where temperature changes abruptly. As you may already know, heat is something that can ruin new biodegradable bags fairly quickly.
With these, you must be careful but you could get away with storing/using them in warmer temperatures than what’s possible with the product’s competitors. The bottoms are also sturdy, built with a star-seal that doesn’t break when you pick up a filled bag by the tips. One potential drawback could be the bag’s height, which might be a tad bit smaller than most ordinary-sized trash bins. If your bin is short then this won’t be of concern.
- The plastic is strong enough to prevent leaks from seeping through
- Heat and puncture resistant, safe to use in warm and/or humid locations without disintegrating too fast
- he bottoms of the bags are star-sealed, allowing lots of trash to be held inside without the need to carry the entire bag to the dumpster
- May not be tall enough to fit properly into some trash bins
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Bag-To-Nature Compostable Bag And Liner – Best Biodegradable Bags for Small Trash Bins
The Bag-To-Nature Compostable Bag And Liner has a lot of features that one comes to expect for biodegradable bags, but a few unique traits as well. For starters, the bags are built to last, even when the disintegration process starts. You can really get a lot in these, although the capacity is only three gallons total. Leakage is almost guaranteed to never occur here, and filling it to the brim with a little more than what’s specified shouldn’t tear anything. That includes the handles.Heat isn’t too much of a burden either; just keep them stored properly and away from warm areas for too long. Under ideal conditions, the bags will last for between six to nine months without going bad. You might encounter splitting with some of them, especially when pulling out the bags. It’s something more likely to happen if they’re in the heat. Regardless, the Bag-To-Nature bags will store your compost and trash well enough for you to completely rid your home of disposable plastic.
- Strong enough to pack items in the bags, or “stuff” with trash
- Leaks, even small ones, will never occur at the bottom of trash bins
- Doesn’t succumb to the heart easily
- Long pantry life (six-to-nine months)
- Some of the bags could split at the seams when opened
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Primode 100% Compostable Bags – Best Biodegradable Bags for Industrial Composting
The Primode 100% Compostable Bags are the final product on the list, but good enough to be compared with all the other product featured. It has a good holding capacity, six gallons to be exact. That’ll be enough to take it the average amount of trash to consumers use on a weekly basis. If you live alone, you might be able to keep these bags around for up to six months without buying more (there are 50 bags in all). You can compost at home or have it done locally. And when you open them, the seams won’t tear so easily. This is a problem with biodegradable and ordinary trash bags, so it’s great to see the problem go away with Primode.If you plan on holding something in the bags that’s heavier than normal, using two bags at once is suggested. However, this might make the bags last for a shorter time than expected. If you want biodegradable bags that will keep you from needing more for longer than two-quarters of the year, consider one of the other brands. If not, place the Primmode Bags high on your list of potential purchases.
- Large holding capacity (up to six gallons)
- Suited for both home or industrial composting
- Fraying won’t happen when rolled out of the container
- Because of the large volume that can be held, double-bagging might be required for some uses
Biodegradable&Compostable Bags – Buyer’s Guide
How to Determine Weak Bags from those that Are Strong
Biodegradable and Compostable bags have had a reputation for not being very strong in the past. Many consumer’s older complaints about such products were correct. But in recent years due to the level of awareness concerning the dangers that plastic brings to the environment, brands have strengthened their products, making them more durable but just as easy to break down. Try to focus your choice of bags on their shelf/pantry life, plastic quality, and the time it will take for the material to break down in your trash bin. These can be difficult to find out without testing the product for yourself firsthand, particularly since some of them will last longer based on the climate they’re used in. Always store your biodegradable bags in a place that’s cool and dry; you don’t want them breaking down before you’ve even had a chance to use them.
Proper Storage
Again, you’ll want to ensure that your biodegradable/compostable bags are stored in a location that isn’t too hot or humid. This will cause the bags to age quickly, and may even result in your having to throw everything out. The bags could stick to one another, giving the material the same feeling as shrink wrap. It would be impossible to take a single bag without putting holes in the body in this case. With some products, you could get away with leaving the bag out in a hot room for a few hours, but nothing more. Plus, you don’t want to deal with leaks and other nastiness when taking the bag out of your trash bin. Make sure that you read the instructions on the product’s labels when you can. But first, evaluate the product’s description to see if there are any stipulations for using your bag of interest.
The Difference Between Biodegradable and Compostable
The biggest difference between biodegradable and compostable plastic is how well they degrade under certain conditions. With compostable plastic, certain requirements must be met for the bags to fully break down as needed, which is why certain location might not be able to do this properly (while others can). But biodegradable plastic will break down anywhere, including in the oceans and soil without human assistance. However, this isn’t a huge issue here since all of the bags shown in the reviews are both biodegradable and compostable. You get both features all in one product, making it that much easier to dispose of when you’re done with the week’s trash. Or turn around and use them for compost in your yard; lots of people depend on the compost for disposing of waste material in their backyards (for gardens, farms, etc).
Summary/Conclusion
If you’re still not sure about which biodegradable/compostable product you want to try out first, take into the considerations mentioned in the Buyers Guide. What will the primary purpose be for using them? Are you trying to make your home more green, or need a better way to store future compost for a small garden? And will your local city or country waste management be able to get rid of the compost in compliance with what’s recommended by the product? All of these are important questions that you should help clarify to kind of bag that’s best for your home. Furthermore, don’t forget to evaluate the comparison table if you need to find a bag that will conform to the shape of your trash bin. You don’t want to end up with something that’s too big or small for you to use. Additionally, look into quantity and volume as well, particularly if you like to place a lot of trash in your bin. This can also help you end up with enough bags to last you several months, up to and including a year.
Yet if you’re still confused about which product is best, look no further than the UNNI and Green Earth bags (numbers one and two from the list). They are very strong and can be used for most situations without the need to double bag. And since both have 100 bags in total, there’s no excuse for picking up ordinary plastic bags for a long time. But all of the bags have the function of making your home greener and easier on the environment. Everyone has to do their part to save the Earth, and eliminating your reliance on plastic is a good place to start!
I have been using Green Earth for a few months now and I haven’t had a single problem with them! They hold in liquids for what seems like forever because my kids are always forgetting to empty the food or liquid in the sink before throwing it away.
I didn’t even realize they made biodegradable trash bags. I am super into being as sustainable as possible and now that I know about this I can add to my green things that I do!
I have been using the Eco-Safe bags for about a month now and they work great for my food waste. I use it to bag it up and then I know that all of the items in my bags are going to compost safely and within a decent time.
I really wish all businesses and stores would switch over to biodegradable bags or paper altogether. There is no need for us to be killing the planet with all of this plastic!!