Trash bags are convenient and reliable household products that store your daily garbage at home. In recent years, more and more companies are going for different ways of maximizing the use of trash bags. You might be thinking, “can you recycle trash bags.” This is often a problem most households have if the only trash bag left is full and no extra bags left.
If you want to recycle a trash bag, then that means pouring out the contents onto a garbage bin and putting it again inside your home, right? Will this be a good idea or not? Lucky for you, in this article, you will be learning a few things about trash bags and the answer to your question of whether trash bags can be recycled or not.
Can You Recycle Trash Bags?
Recycling so many different things is quite easy these days. From used clothes to damaged tires, there’s a lot you can do and make them useful again. Trash bags are made out of recycled materials, and usually, they are made into thin materials or often called plastic fibers. And if you’re wondering if can you recycle trash bags, you should know that recycling them is not the best option you have.
Aside from their overall construction, trash bags are often wet, dirty, and contain different bacteria and smells. And this may pose various challenges to recycling companies and even for individual homemade recyclers. If you want to recycle them, then the most likely route you will take is dumping the filled garbage bag and simply washing them off again, right? And that’s not a good route to take.
The problem is, everything you put into the trash bag goes into the landfills. And this is one of the reasons why people don’t put their recyclables into their trash bags. By doing this, you allow yourself to get the idea that everything you put in your trash bag is waste, and you don’t think for a second that everything you put into your trash bags can be recycled.
The same thing can be said about trash bags. When you fill your trash bags with all the waste you have, their next destination will always be a trip to the landfill. Simply put, recyclers don’t even get to notice trash bags as a potential recycling product. So, that’s about it. Whether you want to recycle your trash bags or not, they are not highly recyclable products that yield good outcomes. So, can you recycle trash bags? Trash bags are not recyclables.
Alternative Ways to Recycle
If you can’t recycle trash bags, then you might have to find alternative ways. Luckily, there are still a number of viable options. Here are other alternatives if there’s no way can you recycle trash bags.
- Avoid Trash bags
Yup, you read that right. This is one of the few alternative things you can do if you don’t want to recycle trash bags. It is fine for as long as you are eager to put your garbage outside and into the bin. If you are looking for this as a viable option, then always remember to separate biodegradables, non-biodegradables, and recyclable items.
Plus, you can deal with leftover foods and make a soil compost for your gardening needs. If you live alone or with a family, you can have this to solve your problem. If not, there are still a few alternative ways below.
- Reusable Bags
As mentioned earlier, more and more companies are leaning towards renewable resources and reducing plastics and garbage going into landfills. And one good alternative is having yourself renewable bags. Fortunately, multiple companies are selling reusable bags, and it doesn’t cost you more. All you need to do is pour the contents onto the bin and carefully wash it. Be sure to handle it with care, or else it would rip easily.
- Big Cartons
Another alternative way of storing garbage in your home is having big cartons be the substitute for big trash bags. If you happen to have big cartons lying around from washing machine cartons, or other appliances, this might be the best option you have as these are big and can accommodate more trash than traditional trash bags.
The only thing you will do is find a place accessible enough for the big cartons to fit in. One of the good things about big cartons is that they are reusable as long as your garbage is not wet. Always keep the bottom clean to hold everything in place and avoid putting in liquids or leftover food that may rot inside and cause the carton to get wet.
Are Black Plastic Trash Bags Biodegradable?
In general, plastics and biodegradable doesn’t sound right in a sentence. And this is because plastics are known to be one of the most common causes of garbage and pollution itself. Scientifically speaking, plastics can biodegrade, but it would take hundreds of years before they biodegrade.
The consequence of this is that plastic trash bags will be the king of landfills for years. And if it rains or floods, these plastic bags may wash off into the sea, rivers, and may cause massive problems, which is currently happening in all parts of the world.
So, the best thing for you to help mother nature is to reduce waste and go for renewable and reusable products. And by this, you limit the trips of black trash bags going to landfills and wreaking havoc if they are washed ashore or into the river. Know more about trash bags here!
Conclusion
Can you recycle trash bags? It is a question that almost all people don’t come across. And this is because trash bags are products designed for storing different kinds of wastes that will eventually go to the landfills. Whether you want to save money or not, recycling trash bags are not the best way to go about it.
Recycling trash bags isn’t an option. Fortunately, there are a few alternative ways to substitute a trash bag, and those are listed above.