How to Save on Trash Bags Like a Pro

How to Save on Trash Bags Like a Pro

By AAA Polymer | Can Liners

Mar 05

Today, a growing number of business owners are focusing on how to save on trash bags! By paying a little attention to this often overlooked area, you may be able to uncover significant savings and opportunities to impact your bottom line. 

At AAA Polymer, we specialize in helping warehouses, distribution centers, and business owners find savings. And one of the top ways we achieve this goal is through a comprehensive trash bag and can liner audit. During this hassle-free process, we'll get to know you and your needs and guide you to the best solution. Our goal is simple: to help you save on trash bags like a pro. Let's take a closer look at a few of the guiding principles we use when helping business owners save money on trash bags. 

Bigger Isn’t Always Better

A key strategy to saving money on trash bags is using the right-sized one for the task at hand. Most trash bag and can liner vendors know all too well that bigger isn’t always better, but they don’t always let their clients in on the secret. The larger trash bags you buy the better it is for them, meaning some vendors will milk you as much as they can in order to earn a profit.

To put things into perspective, research shows that many facilities are using 30% more can liners than necessary. That means if you are spending anywhere between $5k and $100k on can liners, purchasing the wrong size can lead upwards to $30k a year on unnecessary costs. To find out if you are purchasing the wrong size trash bags, here are some tell-tale signs to look for.

  • Trash bags hanging out of the container, also known as “Ugly Bag Hangover” or UBH.
  • Having to constantly knot and band trash bags to keep them in place.
  • Using trash bags that do not reach the bottom of a container.

In the end, bigger isn't always better — especially when it comes to purchases impacting your bottom line. The best approach is to right size your can liner for maximum efficiency. 

Bulk Purchases Are Always Better

Any savvy business owner knows the more you buy of something, the lower it's going to cost. The same rule applies for trash bags, yet all too often business owners get comfortable going to their local grocery store to buy can liners when they are starting to run low. Not only does buying in bulk lower the price of each box of trash bags, but it also leads to less plastic waste from packaging and less overall gas mileage attached to each purchase.

If you have a green initiative in place or are thinking about starting one soon, applying the bulk purchase strategy can be the perfect addition to your green plan. Many business owners are also utilizing commercial recycling programs to advance sustainability initiatives while generating real savings.

The Right Type Makes Things Right

At AAA Polymer, we take pride in helping our clients choose the most efficient type of can liner for their place of business depending on its location and application. Choosing the wrong can liner for the job not only leads to financial waste, but it can also cause unnecessary spills and hazards. 

And the impact of these spills can be greatly amplified depending on the type of trash you're dealing with. For example, if you are working with heavy, sharp objects, purchasing trash bags with a high degree of thickness (or gauge) is important to avoid any accidents. Saving money on thinner trash bags will only lead to double bagging and more frequent spills, wasting valuable time as well as financial resources.

On the other hand, if you are dealing with office or restroom waste, choosing a lighter trash bag with a thinner gauge is best. It makes no sense to use a strong, tear-resistant trash bag on paper waste, but all too often we find businesses who forget to take this small detail into consideration.

In the end, it's best to choose the best type of trash bag for the actual application. In doing so, you can ensure the bag is up to the task. You can learn more about choosing the best type of can liner for the application in our post "A Simple Guide to the Different Types of Can Liners."

Save on Trash Bags by Partnering with AAA Polymer

Simply put, not all trash bags or can liners are created equally. The majority of the clients we serve are shocked to learn the amount of time, consideration, and detail that is required to choose the best can liner or trash bag. 

Fortunately, you don't have to do it because we offer a complimentary can liner audit service. During the can liner audit, we'll get to know you, your business needs, and goals to guide you to the best, money-saving solution.   

Even if you already have a can liner and vendor who you think is best for your business — it never hurts to have a second opinion. In fact, it usually helps and lead to savings!

Contact AAA Polymer today!

About the Author

AAA Polymer, Inc. was founded in 1974, as a plastic resin and material trading company with an innovative vision to create a company to provide plastic recycling services for industrial/commercial businesses. If you have any questions, we're here for you. Just call us at 718.389.2498.

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