is not about developing a bio-based or recycled plastic bag.
My solution is to stop using big garbage bags and just put it into a garbage bin.
And I just suggested it to my wife and her response was...
"ugh... that sounds like a lot of work... I just woke up Steve, can we talk about this later?"
But here's what the City or Toronto says about garbage collection:
Each bin/bag/item cannot weigh more than 20 kg (44 lbs) or it will not be collected. Ties/bungee cords must be completely removed before collection. All items must fit in the appropriate bins and the lids must closed for collection.
Do you see ANYTHING on that list that requires you to use a garbage bag?
I don't use a bag for my recycling and I used to put my compost in a bin without a bag and that could be messy, but manageable.
So why do we need garbage bags?
I know some municipalities require residents to use specifically coloured bags, but I don't think that's the norm.
Of course there will be times when a garbage bag is necessary, but I think most of the time it's not.
So what do you think, this New Year, can we start the no garbage bag revolution?
Are you with me???? And will you offer me a place to stay if my wife boots me out for taking on yet another planet saving project?
LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!!!
Comments
I have not purchased plastic garbage bags in years. Since the pandemic, I have been doing most of my grocery shopping online/pick up and they provide my items in brown paper bags. We also have a stash of plastic grocery bags (when I am in the store and buy more than will fit in my own bags and from others who shop without bringing their own bags). Sometimes we use the paper bag by itself, sometimes the paper and plastic together. We don’t generate a lot of trash; there will be 4 or 5 of those in the bin every week.
Have you considered the putrid mess of garbage sitting in 90° to 100° heat. When dumped into the garbage truck it will leave nasty dripping smelly residue into the bin and the truck will leak the same.
Otherwise I love what you do!!
We are ‘required’ to bag everything. We try to use paper bags from the grocery store as often as possible. Larger items just get put in the bin that goes to the curb. And guess what, they always pick it up.
There are several compostable, environmentally friendly trash bag brands available (Ayotee, Superbio, to name a few). I put dry trash in a paper bag and will be using one of the above for the rest.
If one composts, paper bags can probably be used instead of plastic ones. Of course, the best solution is to zero-waste it. Thanks for bringing it up, though. I think it is an important thing to consider.
I think loose trash collection would cause many problems with trash loose and blowing around. Plus very dirty/smelly barrels to clean or rodents could appear. I wish we could have trash bags made of a compostable, paper like product. (I use toilet paper, tissues, and napkins made from 100% bamboo fiber instead of trees).
We haven’t used garbage bags in years. A quick rinse with the garden hose is all that’s needed.
Each city in the US makes this determination and while this is a nice idea, I know for us, garbage bags are required by our trash collector.
Steve, I try to avoid the garbage in general; the issue with loose garbage is cleaning out the massive garbage Bin – use of water and sometimes dishwashing detergent – at what point is that more environmentally un-friendly than a bag ?
I’ve been thinking about this as well. One thing I remember from the 1970’s was that bagging the trash/garbage reduced litter. Free items in the back of trash trucks tend to blow out and land on the roadways. Why can’t we use paper garbage bags?