Since we're currently Cure-ing, lots of stuff is going to be making its way out of our house in trash bags in the next few weeks. In our ongoing efforts to live a greener life, we're thinking it would be nice if those trash bags weren't just one more thing that was going to stick around for a few thousand years.
BioBags may be the ticket. Made from a corn derived material called "Mater-bi," BioBags promise to be 100% biodegradable and compostable. They also claim to reduce trash oders as the bags are "breathable" and so release heat and moisture instead of letting them build up.
With bag sizes ranging from 33-gallon yard waste down to .91-mil dog waste bags, BioBags has a product available for practically every use.
The problem with these "biodegradeable" bags is that most of them will end up in landfills where they WON'T biodegrade.
view The Green Cat's profile
That's cool that they can be composted.
view Lizzykewl's profile
I agree with the green cat, but i think still think this is a huge step in the right direction as compared to the plastic bags people load up each and every day and throw into the landfills
view Hollie's profile
why won't they biodegrade in a landfill?
view Joan in SB's profile
I've just come back from the housewares show in Chicago and posted a story on a company called Perf Go Green, not based on corn products, but a mixture of recycled plastic and an oxo-biodegradable proprietary application....that they say completely breaks down in landfills within 12-24 months and will not produce any toxins.
You can read my post on them at http://trendbites.com/green-trash-bags-an-oxymoron-or-a-phenomenon/
They've just introduced their trash bags at the Housewares Show so are just getting themselves up and going but I understand will be in stores by this summer. Turns out using corn based eco products is beginning to be less attractive because it defers corn from food to eco products and alternative fuels which will eventually create a shortage; there were a couple of manufacturers there whose eco products were based on different materials. Gotta say if these work, the world could change after all.
view Kimbrotoo's profile
Re: landfill
From the BioBag website
BioBags are designed to be composted and returned naturally back to the earth. If BioBags are placed in an âopenâ or âturnedâ landfill they will decompose at a rate similar to other biodegradable materials in the same setting. If BioBags are placed in an anaerobic (air-locked) landfill and deprived of oxygen and the existence of the micro-organisms that âeatâ naturally biodegradable materials, their ability to decompose will be severely restricted. This is true of all biodegradable materials placed in this setting, including paper, yard waste and food waste.
As a consumer, you should be quite suspicious of any manufacturer making claims that their products will biodegrade quickly in an air-locked landfill.
view bobbib's profile