Tiny Choices Q&A: Tossing Trash when you’re Bag Free?
By Karina | August 13, 2007
Welcome to Tiny Choices Q&A, where we open the floor for discussion on questions which y’all have submitted (read the first list of questions here).
Stacey asks:
If you never take plastic bags, how do you get rid of your trash?
To be honest, I am a total hoarder and I have a bunch of plastic bags under my sink waiting to be used up. I haven’t taken plastic bags from a shop since March when I learned about the giant patch of plastic garbage that is floating in the pacific ocean and that can grow to twice the size of Texas. Yuck! I am still working my way through my store of bags, though. I accumulated plastic at my current apartment for almost 2 years before I quit the bag habit. It really adds up!
First, I would suggest that you reduce the amount of garbage you have to throw away. less garbage = fewer garbage bags, right? recycle, compost, and choose reusable cleaning supplies instead of disposables. Here’s a tip: use a really small garbage can. This will give you the incentive to reduce your waste going out. I have two small (what would be typically considered bathroom) cans in my kitchen - one for garbage, and one for recyclables. Now, I know this is super-easy for a one-person household and some large households may find themselves with more garbage than a wee-little-can holds. But I would challenge you all to try this and see if it reduces your garbage stream! And let us know - we’re really curious!
Second, check how things are tossed. In my apartment building there are large garbage cans outside to put your trash into. These cans are lined with heavy duty bags already - so there’s no need for me to tie up my garbage in it’s own bag and toss it. I just carry my garbage can outside with me and dump into the big can. I do continue to line my can with old plastic shopping bags, however. If the garbage is especially gross I’ll toss it bag and all… and [true confession time!] that’s just me being lazy and not wanting to wash out my garbage can.
Third, once you’ve used up all your existing plastic bags (and if you still must line your garbage can): consider purchasing garbage bags made from recycled plastic. This creates a demand for recycled plastic products - and if we’re going to keep using the plastic, creating a demand for recycled plastic is a very good thing. Also, you might consider trying a compostable/biodegradable garbage bag for your trash - although don’t fool yourself, once it ends up in a landfill there won’t be any biodegrading going on. But again, you’re creating a market for a product that ought to become more popular (in this case, corn-based plastics).
What are your thoughts? What works for y’all?
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Topics: Q&A, Waste | 5 Comments »
5 Comments
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When we moved to Madison we were able to shift to a smaller garbage can - nay, had to! Recycling is easier here, we can compost, and we discovered biodegradable kitty litter. We produce very little waste now (we often go two weeks without having to empty the kitchen trash can and it is a “medium” size bin) and our trash doesn’t stink!
[...] garbage bag selection. And! they had biobags, those corn-based compostable bags we discussed in our Q&A on tossing trash when you’re bag free. I purchased the 3-gallon [...]
Hi. What do you mean when you say, “although don’t fool yourself, once it ends up in a landfill there won’t be any biodegrading going on. ” ?? Why wouldn’t they biodegrade if they’re biodegradable?
mostly because there isn’t any oxygen or water in landfills, so any decomposition that occurs is at an incredibly slow rate. people have cored into landfills and found newspapers (which ought to biodegrade quickly) that were still intact and legible many many many years later.
Forget the 3 R’s - we need to precycle. Especially when it comes to food!
We need to stop purchasing pre-washed, pre-cut vegetables. We’ve all gotten so lazy - how hard is it to wash salad greens, how difficult is it to to cut up a carrot. BTW, why do we insist on buying those ridiculous “baby” carrots. At the supermarket, is it really necessary to put every fruit and vegetable we pick up into its own little plastic bag? Do we need to buy so much meat (which sits on a piece of styrofoam and then encased in plastic wrap)?
Personally, I’m going to try to reform - I’ve been guilty of all the above.