Do You Know How to Spot the Best Compostable Trash Bags?

Do You Know How to Spot the Best Compostable Trash Bags?

By AAA Polymer | Compostable Bags

Mar 21

Whether you're looking for the best compostable trash bags for the City of New York Department of Sanitation organics collection program or for any other municipal composting program, it's imperative to choose compostable can liners or trash bags that perform as advertised. Beware — not all compostable trash bags are created equally.

To make matters worse, there is an unnecessary but considerable amount of confusion surrounding the best compostable trash bags can liners. But in order to realize the many benefits of compostable bags, you must know what to look for, how to spot a fake, and where to get the best compostable trash bags. Continue reading to learn more.

Understanding Your Green Bag Options

As we previously mentioned, not all "green" bags are created equally. The first step in choosing the best compostable trash bags is to understand the various options available on the market today:

Biodegradable Bags

Biodegradable bags include materials that degrades from naturally occurring microorganisms, like algae, fungi, and bacteria. With biodegradable bags, there is no time frame associated with the process.

Compostable Bags

Compostable bags have materials that degrade at the same rate as other organic compostable materials. When these bags break down, they leave nothing more than water, CO2, biomass, and inorganic substances essential to composting.

Oxo-degradable Bags

Oxo-degradable bags can photodegrade (convert in the sun) or convert with humidity. Once these bags degrade, they do so into smaller particles, leaving plastic polymer residue.

Clearing Up the Confusion Surrounding Green Bag Options

Much of the confusion surrounding green bag options are due to false claims and lack of clear standards in the United States. While several companies may claim to offer the best compostable trash bags, many of these claims are not tested. In addition, most companies who claim to have compostable bags are different types of can liners with a biodegradable additive.

Instead of being real biodegradable bags, many of these products are oxo-degradable bags and leave behind a polymer residue. Oxo-degradable bags are not biodegradable because they can contain cobalt, heavy metals, and salt.

How to Find Best Compostable Trash Bags & Spot Fakes?

In spite of the confusion surrounding the best compostable bags, only bags meeting the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D6400 as certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) have been tested and proven to be biodegradable. ASTM is recognized as the global leader in international testing standards for products, materials and services; and BPI is the certification authority for compostable products in the United States.

In order to achieve this exceptionally high standard, the compostable bag must be at least 90% decomposed in 180 days. To determine if the bag is actually compostable, simply look for the BPI-certified designation.  

This prestigious seal is the only certification in the United States that signifies the best compostable trash bags. Products are not awarded this seal unless it has been rigorously tested and proven by the BPI. And when you use certified compostable trash bags, you'll enable organic material to naturally compost, such as:

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    Nut shells
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    Lettuce
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    Coffee grinds
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    Leaves
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    Yard clippings
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    And other organic materials

What Are the Best Compostable Trash Bags?

Hailed as the "Green Standard" BioTuf Compostable Bags are the best compostable trash bags because they can save you green. These can liners are 100% compostable and boast:

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    Excellent strength for post-consumer and pre-consumer food waste diversion programs
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    Remarkable tear resistant and puncture resistance
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    Ideal composition for municipal curbside yard waste collection programs
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    Optimum load capacity and lifting strength
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    BioTuf Compostable Bags have been repeatedly tested and proven for in-service performance
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    BioTuf Compostable Bags dissipate moisture, which results in odor control

BioTuf Is Certified for Compostability & Superior Strength

As the proven, best compostable trash bags, Heritage BioTuf Compostable Trash Bags have received the highly-coveted ASTM D6400 certification. This prestigious specification is for plastic-based products  engineered to be composted in industrial and municipal aerobic composting facilities.

BioTuf Compostable Trash Cans have also received the following ASTM certifications for exceptional quality:

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    ASTM D882 (test standard for tensile strength),
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    ASTM D1709(test standard for dart impact),
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    ASTM D1922(test standard for tear resistance),and
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    ASTM D6988 (test standard for film gauge thickness).

Contact AAA Polymer for the Best Compostable Trash Bags

If you're looking for the best compostable trash bags, AAA Polymer is the authorized retailer of Heritage BioTuf Compostable Trash Bags. Our BioTuf bags are approved for use in the City of New York Department of Sanitation organics collection program. At AAA Polymer, we offer BioTuf Compostable Can Liners in an array of sizes, capacities, and gauges to meet your exact needs. Whether you're looking for a new compostable can liner vendor or you're looking for more information on the benefits, AAA Polymer can help.

Contact AAA Polymer today to learn more about the best compostable can liners.

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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