If I’m going to go to all the trouble of sorting my food waste from my recyclables and other trash, I don’t want the bag everything is contained in to be bad for the environment. It seems to defeat the purpose of collecting your kitchen waste only to use up a plastic garbage bag in the process, doesn’t it? I decided that the solution to my problem was compostable bags, but I quickly learned that all bags are definitely not created equal.
So what are the best compostable trash bags? For my money, I always turn to BioBags. They’ve been around since long before other companies got in on the compostable trash bag bandwagon, which means they’ve had time to work out the kinks. They’re durable, fully compostable, and they come in eco-friendly packaging. You’re not stuck with a small selection of sizes, either.
It wouldn’t seem like making such a minor decision as selecting a trash bag could be such a big deal, but if you’ve ever had a bag burst open and spill slimy, stinky food scraps on your kitchen floor, you know picking a well-made product can make a huge difference. You also want to be sure the company you’re supporting is doing their best for the environment. Below is a selection of bags that won’t steer you wrong.
Last update on 2023-03-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Reviews of the Best Compostable Trash Bags
1. BioBag Compostable Trash Bags
Biobag calls themselves the original compostable bag, and whether that’s true or not, the company has been around for a long time. BioBag is also the largest home compostable bag manufacturer, with offices in 20 countries, according to Mother Nature Network. They have developed a new type of resin that decomposes with nothing but the microorganisms already in most compost bins.
BioBag meets the strict European standards for home compost, meaning that their bags they will entirely decompose in 90 days in a home bin. Some other bags are only certified to biodegrade in an industrial facility or a home compost pile that is at least 3-feet wide and tall.
They have a massive range of bags, from pet bags and sandwich bags to 33-gallon lawn and leaf bags. The bags are made out of plant starches, vegetable oils, and compostable polymers that are designed to break down easily, but despite that, they hold up just as well as plastic bags for the most part.
The only time I’ve run into trouble is when I leave wet material in the bags for too long. One time, I left a BioBag in my countertop compost bin full of food scraps for a week, and when I pulled it out, it had leaked everywhere. Now I know you can only leave these in place for 4 days or so.
You can view BioBag trash bags offers by clicking here.
Pros:
- Certified for home composting
- Wide range of sizes
- Sturdy design
- Gathered at the bottom so they won’t burst
- Non-GMO certified
- Made in the USA
Cons:
- Should be changed every 3 days
- Tends to disintegrate if filled with lots of wet material
2. UNNI Compostable Trash Bags
UNNI bags are certified home compostable and come in multiple different sizes. They have no polyethylene – unlike some other compostable garbage bags out there – and are made from plant starch.
The good news and the bad news is that these start to biodegrade after just a few days, so if you have them in your indoor bin for more than 3 days, they’ll begin to fall apart. I’ve also found that they leak more than any other brand on this list.
The bags are smaller than others – instead of a standard 3-gallon bag, theirs is a 2.6-gallon bag. Depending on the size of your countertop kitchen composter, these bags might be a touch too small.
You can view UNNI trash bags offers by clicking here.
Pros:
- Certified for home composting
- Eco-friendly packaging
- Decompose quickly
Cons:
- The older design isn’t certified for home composting, and you may still come across them in stores
- Smaller bags
- Leak more often than other brands
3. Bag-to-Nature Compostable Trash Bags
Bag-to-Nature has a reputation for making extra tough compostable bags. Like the others on this list, they’re certified home compostable, but they can stand up to some serious use.
One time, I shoved a broken stick into one of these bags without thinking and quickly realized my mistake. When I went to pull the bag out of the bin, I assumed it would be leaking everywhere, but it actually held up.
The downside is that these tend to sweat more than some other bags I’ve used. Maybe it’s because they’re so tough that they are less breathable. I’ve found that I absolutely must put a paper towel in the bottom to soak up some of that moisture, which seems wasteful to me.
They also have a shorter shelf-life than other bags on this list. The manufacturer suggests using them in 6 months. I’ve also noticed that they take longer to decompose than other bags.
The bags come in eco-friendly packaging, and the size is just right for most countertop compost bins.
You can view Bag-to-Nature trash bags offers by clicking here.
Pros:
- Certified for home composting
- Tough
Cons:
- Should be used within 6-9 months
- Sweats
How to Choose the Best Compostable Trash Bag – Buyer’s Guide
There are two things that I think are a must-have in a good compostable bag: durability, and compost-ability. If a bag falls apart all over your kitchen floor, it’s worthless. If it sits in the compost pile for years without biodegrading, it’s – excuse the pun – garbage. But there are also other elements that make a compostable garbage bag really stand out from the others.
Durability
Once upon a time, you could pretty much count on compostable trash bags ripping open right when you didn’t want them to. Fortunately, things have come a long way technology-wise, so that you can count on a good bag holding together even when packed to the top.
Ability to Break Down
A good bag should break down right along with all the other stuff in your compost bin. The microorganisms in your pile need to be able to munch on the bag just as they do the banana peels and coffee grounds. Most of the best bags are made out of a corn resin or other plant fibers that break down within 90 to 180 days, which is about the same timeframe for actual corn in a compost bin.
Some bags that call themselves compostable only break down in industrial conditions, which isn’t that helpful if you don’t have your own industrial composter at home.
Breathability
If you use a kitchen bin to collect your scraps, then no doubt you’ve encountered a situation where the trash liner starts to sweat and creates a seriously gross situation. A good trash liner should breathe so you don’t get the slimy, stinky, moldy side effects.
Certification
While a compostable trash bag doesn’t have to be certified to call itself compostable, the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) is a non-profit organization that certifies compostable products.
Check the box for the BPI certificate.
Packaging
There is nothing more irritating than buying a product that is better for the environment, only to have it come in a ton of decided not Earth-friendly packaging. I once got a package of compostable spoons, and when I opened the box, there was a second interior box, and inside that were plastic bags dividing the spoons into groups of ten. Ridiculous!
My Choice for the Best Compostable Trash Bags
You can’t go wrong with any of the bags on this list, but if you want something that isn’t too expensive, can hold up to your garbage challenges, and will still break up in your home compost pile, BioBags are the best compostable trash bags for the money.
The gathered base makes them extra durable, and they’re made in the USA. The fact that you can buy dog waste bags, food bags, trash bags, and yard bags from the company is a bonus.
Top Rated Compostable Trash Bags
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
