Reasons to Switch to Eco-Friendly Bin Liners

Although it’s good to recycle, many items have to be binned (used nappies, dog poo etc). But traditional black plastic bin bags leak microplastics onto landfills (even unused ones are impossible to recycle, as machines don’t recognise the colour).

Unless you have a food waste bin (this is fine as scraps are made into biogas), just bin tea/coffee grounds (use a sink shield to avoid clogged sinks). And acidic food scraps (onion, leek, garlic, shallot, chives, tomato, citrus and rhubarb), as acids could harm compost creatures.

How are eco-friendly bin liners different?

Biodegradable bin bags break down by bacteria but this can take months or years.

Compostable bin bags obviously are not composted at home due to what’s inside (cloth nappies, dog poo, non-recyclable items). But they can be industrially composted by councils (if your council does not offer this service, it’s a good reason to vote for different councillors!)

The only caveat with these bags is that you should store them in a cool place, away from sunlight (and use them within 12 to 18 months). Otherwise they may start to biodegrade away! Change your liners more often if adding liquids. And don’t use for hot liquids, grease/oil, dust or wool/animal products. 

How to recycle unused plastic bin bags

Black bin bags can not be recycled locally, as machines don’t recognise the colour. To get them out of your town forever, communities can pool to buy a Terracycle Plastic Bag Recycling Box (from £100 to £160, the largest taking 1300 plastic bin bags).

This is placed in a local shop or community centre, then sent off when full using the prepaid label, to be made into industrial piping etc.

Seep eco-friendly bin liners

Seep eco-friendly bin liners are made from truly eco-friendly materials (you’re too busy to likely deal with the science, but safe to say there’s no greenwash here!) Approved for local authority collection.

Reinforced to prevent leaking, each pack contains 25 rolls. Choose from four sizes:

• 10 litres (for small bins)
• 30 and 50 litres (for normal size bins)
• 70 litre (for large bins)

The 90 litre garden waste bags are plastic-free, and ideal to collect grass cuttings, weeds and chippings, for up to 4 weeks. Read about pet-friendly gardens to avoid toxic plants and mulch (keep fresh compost away from pets, as it contains mould).

Bumboo eco-friendly bin liners

Bumboo Bin Bags are sold in packs of 25, sent in plastic-free packaging. They feel different (with a matte finish) and are designed to be easy to open. They fit most bins of any size and shapes. And once full, the smooth surface makes them easy to empty into your dustbin.

They are made of a combination of three materials: sugar-based PLA, ethically-sourced cornstarch and graphene (a ground-breaking material that uses prize-winning technology to create bin bags that are leakproof and can block smells). While being strong enough to hold 10kg of rubbish, without splitting.

The beauty is that once the bags arrive at landfill, they don’t (unlike black bin bags) leach microplastics into landfill. Instead, over 12 months they gradually break down, leaving no harm to the earth. As they are industrially composted under council schemes.

Reusable bin liners (for dry waste)

Moonie Reusable Bin Liners are a good option for ‘dry waste’ (you can’t wash them, as this would release microplastics). But they have seamless bottoms and are easy to empty into refuse trucks, and use again.

The smaller versions area ideal to store swim shoes, cloth nappies or gym gear, or even keep as a portable trash bag for the car (never throw rubbish out your car window, as it attracts wildlife scavengers). And use a portable ashtray for cigarette butts.

Do you have to legally use bin bags?

Technically no. Most councils use mechanical lifters to empty bins into trucks, so refuse workers won’t be touching your rubbish. Bin liners simply prevent ‘ickiness’.

If you live a mostly zero waste life (choosing reusable over disposable), you could end up with a ‘dry bin’ and not need liners!

Are gull-proof sacks effective?

Gull-Proof Sacks are made from thick woven plastic. The idea is that they are emptied into refuse trucks, then returned to you, for use again. The Velcro closing is designed to stop wildlife ripping bags apart.

Sounds good. But they should be only used for dry waste and kept indoors until collection day. Some councils have cancelled trials, as empty bags act like parachutes, filling with air and blowing rubbish down the street.

As with ‘reusable bin liners’, they are at risk of vermin, if used for wet waste (you’d need a microfiber filter to wash them, to stop microplastics escaping the machine, and going out to sea).

The real answer to avoid foxes and gulls ripping open rubbish bags is to avoid littering food, and restore natural habitats (foxes in the wild eat rabbits and rats, although they easily survive on fruit and earthworms and scavenged carrion in urban areas).

And give seagulls back their natural homes (at the seaside, where they eat fish).

If our towns and cities were not full of leftover food, the issue would disappear on its own.