Trash bags are something most of us use in our home, and often, even the most eco-conscious find it hard to be without them.
However, did you know that there are better, less wasteful alternatives out there?
Today, we will go over the eco-friendly trash bag brands that are much better for our environment and other zero-waste alternatives.
So let’s get to it!
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45 Count Hippo Sak Tall Kitchen Bags — Best Plant-Based Bags
The Hippo Sak trash bags are made from plant-based materials — sugar cane to be specific, and are a way better alternative to most commercial brands.
The USA-made bags are 80% plant-based, and the rest of the 20% is recycled or virgin plastic. I like that these are 100% recyclable, and while they aren’t entirely biodegradable, they still are better than standard plastic bin bags.
On top of that, the bags are sturdy as well as leakproof and can hold 13 gallons worth of waste.
Last update on 2024-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
FORID 13 Gallon Tall Kitchen Garbage Bags — Best Compostable Trash Bags
Compostable trash bags are the next best thing, especially these FORID 13-gallon bags.
They are made out of plant starch materials, all of which are designed to biodegrade naturally — meaning that you aren’t contributing to the ever-growing waste!
The bags are also very durable and tear-proof and come in a variety of different sizes to suit the bin for your kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom.
Last update on 2024-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
3 Gallon Second Nature Bags — Best Extra Thick Trash Bags
The unscented, clear bags by Second Nature are great multipurpose alternatives for small bins, packed lunches, or even pet poop bags.
These bags are entirely compostable and have even earned BPI and ASTM 6400 certifications due to their eco-friendliness.
What’s also great about the Second Nature bags is that they are extra thick and strong so that you can fit more into one, and they are made out of natural ingredients such as sugar cane, vegetable oils, and plant starches.
Last update on 2024-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Compostable Bin Liners — Best Wheelie Bin Trash Bags
If you’re struggling to keep your wheelie bins clean, then you may like these compostable, plant-based wheelie bin liners.
In the set, you’ll get 3 liners, made out of the waste wood pulp, and best of all — four trees are planted for every harvested tree.
4 Gallon Biodegradable Garbage Bags — Best for Small Bins
The four-gallon biodegradable trash bags are perfect for small bins in the bathroom or bedroom.
The bags are made out of PSM starch material and will naturally decompose when disposed of. On top of that, the trash bags are very strong, and you can fit quite a lot into them; plus, you won’t need to worry about tears and leaking either.
In each pack, you’ll get about 100, 5 rolls worth of trash bags — making it worth the price!
Last update on 2024-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Reli. Trash Bags — Made From Recycled Content
The Reli. trash bags come in a variety of sizes to suit all types of bins. So you can choose from 16-25 gallon trash bags or get a couple of different sized ones for your kitchen, bathroom, office, and bedroom trash cans.
Best of all, the Reli. trash bags are eco-friendly and recyclable. The material is made out of 20% of post-consumer recycled content, which is extra tough.
The SCS certified bags come 200 in a pack and are entirely U.S.-made.
Last update on 2024-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
PotterandHare Trash Bags — Best for Pedal Waste Bins
The Evaness bin bags are 100% biodegradable and ideal for the standard-size pedal bins.
These trash bags are handmade, with a 20 to 30-liter capacity, or you can also choose a bigger, 50/60 capacity type.
In the pack, you’ll get 40 of these premium bin bags. And because the material contains an EPI-TDPA additive, you can rest assured that the bag will degrade within a 12-24 month period.
KokotoStore Bin Liners — Best for Small Compost Bins
The KokotoStore bin liners are great for countertop compost bins or similar trash cans in your home.
It’s made out of 100% kraft paper and wasted pulp as well as trimmings from the timber industry. I like how the trash bags are entirely biodegradable and compostable — meaning no waste!
With the purchase, you’ll get 25, 10-liter bags, and we’re happy to know that four trees are planted for every tree harvested.
Best Eco-friendly Trash Bags — FAQ
Do We Really Need To Use Trash Bags?
In an ideal world, we wouldn’t need to use trash bags at all. Especially if you compost your food waste, donate clothes to charity, and refuse to buy things packaged in non-recyclable material.
While there are people in the world who can live like this — and kudos to them, there are many of us who find it very difficult and downright impossible to not be producing any trash at all.
Some argue that compostable or biodegradable bags are also part of the problem, but we feel that anything we can do to help the environment in the slightest way — is a step in the right direction.
Are There Any Zero Waste Trash Bag Alternatives?
Apart from living as sustainably as you can, there are some no waste trash bag alternatives that you can use if you already don’t produce a ton of trash.
- Paper bags – Recycled paper bags are a good zero-waste option since they don’t cost any money, and you’re simply reusing something you were bound to throw away — like pet food bags. The downside to this is that not always will an upcycled bag fit your bin.
However, you can get creative with this method using things like old lunch bags or newspapers! - Reusable trash bags – These usually are water-resistant and quite sturdy. All you need is to separate what goes where and simply wash them out to use the bag again.
- Fabric trash bags – The principle is quite similar here as well. The only difference is that you can throw the fabric bag into the wash after.
What did you think about these eco-friendly trash bag alternatives? Do you already use some at home? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and thanks for reading!
For more eco-friendly kitchen ideas, check out the 7 best non-toxic cookware sets!
Anna Miller is a content manager at TrashBackwards. She’s passionate about living a zero-waste lifestyle. Anna has been writing about eco-friendly tips for years now, and she’s got some great ideas on how you can go plastic-free! She loves sharing her knowledge about eco-lifestyle with others. Her articles are always witty and insightful! Shoot her a message if you’ve got any questions about how you can start going green.
