Alexei Volkov
Plastic bags are harmful to the environment, and with plastic bag bans increasing, many people are looking for ways to line their bins without using plastic. One option is to use compostable bin liners, but these often end up in landfills, where they won't break down due to a lack of exposure to air, moisture, and light. A more eco-friendly alternative is to use newspaper, flyers, or scrap paper to line your bin or wrap your food scraps before putting them into the bin. Some people also choose to use their bins as ''naked bins', forgoing a liner altogether and simply washing the bin as needed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Not using a liner | Simply rinsing out the bin between uses |
| Using paper | Newspaper, flyers, scrap paper, paper bags, paper liners |
| Using compostable bio-plastic liners | Compostable bio-plastic liners, plant-based plastic bags |
| Using a bin as a 'naked bin' | Washing it out as needed |
| Wrapping scraps in paper | Newspaper, scrap paper |
| Freezing scraps | Freezing 'wet' scraps in paper or a reusable container |
| Home composting | Using a backyard compost pile, an outdoor compost bin, a community composting scheme, a green bin, or vermicomposting |
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What You'll Learn
Use newspaper to line bins
Using newspaper to line bins is a popular alternative to plastic bin liners. It is a cost-effective method as you can use old newspapers that you may already have lying around. If you don't have any, you can ask friends, family, or neighbours for theirs.
To make a bin liner out of newspaper, you can follow these simple steps:
- Take a sheet of newspaper and fold the top left corner over to the right side, keeping the edges parallel.
- Bring the right corner to the left and fold.
- You now have a newspaper bin liner that is ready for use!
If you are using newspaper to line your bin, it is recommended to wrap your food scraps in newspaper before placing them in the bin. This will help to contain the waste and prevent it from touching the bin itself, reducing odours.
It is worth noting that some people argue against using newspaper to line bins, as it can reduce the amount of newspaper available for recycling. Additionally, in modern, highly compacted landfills, biodegradable materials like newspaper may not break down properly and can contribute to methane production. However, if composting your food scraps, using a newspaper liner can add beneficial brown matter to your compost pile.
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Wash bins instead of lining them
One way to avoid using plastic bin liners is to wash your bins instead. This method keeps your bins fresh and hygienic, and you don't have to waste anything extra just to dispose of your rubbish. Here are some tips on how to wash your bins effectively:
Firstly, it's important to prepare your bin for cleaning. Remove any dirt, loose food, or debris from the inside. You can use a garden hose, a scrubbing brush, or a hand brush to loosen and remove most of the dirt. Make sure to dispose of the dirty water down a drain rather than onto the street or into a flowerbed.
Next, you can use a variety of cleaning solutions to disinfect and deodorize your bin. One simple and effective method is to mix equal parts vinegar essence and water. This mixture dissolves dirt and removes odours. Alternatively, you can use a mixture of salt, vinegar, and warm water, which also has disinfectant properties. For very stubborn dirt, you can use a plastic cleaner detergent, which can be applied with a foam nozzle or sprayed directly onto the bin before rinsing with clean water.
If you want to ensure your bin is thoroughly cleaned, you can use a medium-pressure washer. Attach a garden hose to the connector and release the lock to start the device. Wash the inside of the bin from top to bottom with the water jet, then empty and rinse again until all the dirt is gone. You can also use a wash brush attachment with extra-long bristles to reach hard-to-clean areas.
Finally, some companies offer professional bin cleaning services. These services can provide advanced cleaning systems that eradicate bacteria and odours, ensuring your bins are spotless. They offer various service plans, from monthly to one-time cleanings, and prices typically start at around $35 per bin.
By washing your bins instead of using plastic liners, you can keep your bins clean and fresh while also reducing your plastic waste.
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Compost food scraps
Composting food scraps is a resourceful way to recycle food waste and yard trimmings, reducing the volume of materials that would otherwise be disposed of in landfills or trash incinerators. It can be done both indoors and outdoors and can be as complicated or as simple as you like.
To start composting at home, you will need a balance of carbon-rich materials ("browns"), nitrogen-rich materials ("greens"), water, and air. Browns include dead leaves, twigs, and wood chips, while greens include food scraps, grass clippings, and plant trimmings. Chopping up the scraps speeds up the composting process by exposing more surfaces to anaerobic bacteria.
You can then choose a composting method. One of the simplest methods is to dig an 8-inch hole in a patch of dirt and bury the scraps, covering them so animals aren't tempted to dig them up. You can also use a 3-stage composting bin, with the first bin for fresh scraps, the second for partially decomposed scraps, and the third for fully composted material. Alternatively, you can create a pile in a sunny location and layer the scraps with leaf litter, grass clippings, and soil, turning the pile every week and misting it with water.
Composting requires warm temperatures of at least 71°C (160°F), and you can also use red wiggler worms to speed up the process. After mixing your compost pile, allow it to cure for at least four weeks. Finished compost will look dark, loose, and crumbly and smell like fresh soil.
You can also compost food scraps in a community composting system or an industrial-scale composting facility, which can handle materials that may be challenging to compost at home.
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Use paper bags
Paper bags are a great alternative to plastic bags for lining bins. They are strong and can be reused multiple times before being used to line your internal bins. If you don't have any paper bags, you can ask friends, family, and neighbours for any spare ones they might have. Many stores are now offering paper bags in place of plastic bags, so you can also stock up on them the next time you go shopping.
If you are unable to get your hands on paper bags, you can use old newspapers to line your bins. Wrap food scraps in a few layers of thick newspaper and then put them directly in the outside bin. You can also use mesh grocery bags and totes to line your bins.
It is important to note that while paper bags are better than plastic bags in terms of pollution, they have a higher energy footprint. Therefore, it is best to reuse paper bags as much as possible before using them to line your bins.
If you are using paper bags or newspaper to line your bins, make sure to close or tie them shut securely to prevent loose garbage from flying out during the garbage collection process.
If you are looking for other alternatives to plastic bin liners, you can also try compostable bin liners or jute bags.
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Use plant-based plastic bags
Plastic bags are bad for the environment and contribute to pollution. While some people choose to forgo bin liners altogether, this is not always a practical option. One alternative is to use plant-based plastic bags, which are made from compostable materials and plant-based renewables like corn starch. These bags are designed to break down cleanly without producing microplastics or toxic residues when composted. They are also strong and durable, capable of resisting punctures or leaks.
One brand that offers plant-based plastic bags is HoldOn. Their bags are made from compostable materials and plant-based renewables, and they never include harmful toxins like BPA or PFOA. The bags are super strong and durable, with drawstring handles and a triple-ply design to prevent leaks. They are also BPI Certified Industrially Compostable.
Another option is Sustainable Jungle's large 48-gallon biodegradable trash bags, which are made from plant-based bioplastics, corn starch, and biodegradable polymers. These bags are durable and can handle up to 20 pounds of garbage. However, they are pricey, at more than a dollar per bag.
UNNI also offers compostable trash bags made primarily of corn and plant starch. These bags have a capacity of 13 gallons, making them the perfect size for the average kitchen trash can or compost bin. In a multi-week test, these bags decomposed faster than bags from four other brands in mild weather conditions.
When choosing plant-based plastic bags, it is important to read the packaging carefully to ensure that the bags are truly compostable and not just labelled as "green", "eco-friendly", or "biodegradable". Look for certifications like BPI Certified Industrially Compostable, and check that the bags are made from plant-based materials that will fully decompose.
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Frequently asked questions
You can line your bins with newspaper, flyers, or scrap paper.
Eco-friendly alternatives to plastic bin liners include plant-based plastic bags, paper bags, and compostable bin liners.
To avoid using bin liners altogether, you can wash your bins as needed and wrap "icky" stuff in newspaper or scrap paper.
Reducing food waste and composting food scraps are great ways to reduce waste and the need for bin liners.
Vermicomposting is an alternative to plastic trash bags for indoor composting. It involves keeping a bin of red worms that feed on food scraps and produce nutrient-rich material for houseplants.
