Customer Reviews

BioBag Tall Kitchen Compostable Bags (13 Gallon), 12-Count Boxes (Pack of 4)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

As I am attempting to "green" up my lifestyle, I originally bought these to use for used cat litter and dirty diapers, but ended up replacing my seventh gen kitchen trash bags (temporarily) with these neat biodegradable bags. I love the idea of them breaking down, allowing my trash a chance to biodegrade faster.

These are a "whisper of a trash bag" and I had the most challenging task of using these during the prime summer months (Jun-Aug). My trash is picked up once a week (like most people's), and I experimented with these by emptying my cat's litter box (we use feline pine) in a bio bag. The litter had to sit 5 days before pick up, and I even kept the bag in a cool place. Wrong. The bag broke down and I had the unfortunate task of double bagging (that's where these bags would become outrageously unaffordable). Next, I changed my cat box changing schedule so that I would empty it on trash day (this experiment was in July). Still no good. My trash collectors come in the mid afternoon and the bag didn't make it through the hot humid day. From my experiments (at least in the summer months), I could not use these bags individually for feline pine cat litter.

Next, I used these bags for my diaper pail (still summer). I only have one toddler (almost 2) in diapers, and I found that the bag is fine if it is used for diapers (no wipes in the pail) and taken out weekly (which gets only halfway full in 7 days), but if I waited until I filled my diaper pail (which takes about 2 weeks), too much moisture got built up in the pail and the bag dissolved. Most people don't want stinky diapers kicking it in the house for 2 weeks, but it's unfortunate to use these expensive bags to half capacity, so either way, you lose.

Finally, I found a use for these bags, and that was as my main kitchen bag; but, you have to make significant changes in the way you throw out trash. First off, I read up on these bags, and a previous reviewer stated that if you put your wet trash in, say, an empty bread bag you were going to discard anyway, that these bags will work. I had saved a bunch of these kinds of bags for my cat's litter, so that's how I made these bio bags work. I'd line my can with the bio bag, and on top of the closed can, I'd have an old bagel bag or deli lunch meat ziplock as my wet trash reserve, and if I came up on wet trash I'd put it in that bag, then once that filled up I put the bag of wet trash in the bio bag. As long as the trash didn't get too heavy (or wet), my biobags would make it through a week. If you put wet trash (kitchen scraps, baby wipes, etc) in a biobag, you're doomed.

From my experience using the biobags, they really make you cognizant of how you throw things away. Sure, it seems pointless to put your trash in a bunch of basically plastic bags to put it in another bag, but at least you are taking one layer of plastic out of the equation. Every plastic bag I used to hold wet trash was going to be in my trash, anyway. You'd be surprised how many odd plastic bags you throw away (bread bags, empty chip bags, empty cereal bags, etc). It also showed me just how much wet, compostable garbage I make (kitchen scraps), and it proved to me how I really make enough fruit and veggie scraps for composting. But on the other hand, biobags turned me into a total neurotic over my trash can, as I played trash police with my family and friends. If you can get everyone around you to get with the "system," these bags will work for you. For me, honestly, it wasn't worth all the trouble. I am still sticking with my seventh generation trash bags. :(

These are 13-gallon garbage bags made out of corn. They're completely biodegradable and completely compostable. They're not quite as sturdy as plastic trash bags, but they hold up better than other people have said. No big deal. Double-bag them. I'd rather have two bags made of corn in a landfill than one bag made of plastic.

I was a bit worried that the bag wouldn't last enough to make it to the outgoing garbage, but no worries. It's not quite so strong as the plastic ones, so put anything with sharp corners in the middle.

I use BioBag dog bags and love them, so I tried the kitchen bags also. The dog bags are sturdy and don't tear at all, but the kitchen bags seem to be made from something else. They don't fit in an average kitchen garbage bin and they also tear extremely easily. If you are using them strictly as compost bags and only putting scraps in them I'm sure they'd do fine, but they shouldn't be used for an average kitchen garbage bag.
Also, it only contains 12 bags. Add the price of shipping and this becomes very expensive for a bag only to be used in a compost pile.

No, these are not indestructible hefty hefty hefty bags...yes they are thin, yes moisture builds up in your trash can if you let them sit full of food for more than a week - that's what makes them biodegradable folks! With a little care in removal and disposal, and changing the bag every 5-7 days, these do the job perfectly (put most of your food waste in the compost and these can sit for even longer without too much moisture build up to weaken the bag). If you want a steel toed, tear-proof bag, well it's going to sit in the landfill for the next thousand years. If you want something that will biodegrade and significantly reduce your eco-footprint, these are the real deal. Put a little effort into your "green" rather than complaining that these don't take out the trash and do the dishes on their own. Our planet goes to way more trouble taking care of us, so let's return the favor.

I have been using canvas grocery bags for a few years now, and it bothered me to still use standard plastic trash bags. These are great, though they aren't terribly strong. I find that the more recycyling and composting I do, the less trash I have anyway, though. My husband and I end up with about one bag of trash per 2 weeks. By the end of the 2 weeks, these bags are starting to weaken and you want to be careful when taking them out. Otherwise, it's worth it, knowing we're not adding more plastic to the landfills. Every little bit helps.

I have read other comments from good to bad and have to say, I'm cornfused as to the lament the other people may have with this product. I have been using these bags for almost a year and have yet to have a problem with them. They are sturdy enough for the trash we put in it. We recycle as much as possible, and no, you cannot pound the trash into these bags. If your expecting hefty hefty hefty, well then maybe your at the wrong place or you need to start recycling more. We mostly put kitchen trash and light un-recyclable stuff in to them, but they work and yes maybe they're a little more expensive but I feel better about my part in this throw away society. They have worked better than I anticipated and just placed another order for more.

These bags were re-done at some point - Maybe 6-12 months ago. Anyway, we used to have problems with them starting to compost in our garbage can (located under a heater vent of all places) but now they hold up well for the week it takes our family of five to fill one of these. They are also a bit larger than they used to be which has meant they fit into our can better. I might add that we don't put any wet waste into our kitchen garbage as that all goes to our chickens or in our separate compost container which is dumped more often.

I try to do my best with sustainable products and recycling, so bought these bags. I love the idea of them, but after just a few days the garbage stinks, the bag turns wet and clammy and they are extremely thin and have ripped from just tossing a stalk of broccoli in the bag. Sometimes I actually double bag these in my garbage can so they don't tear, but they're already pretty expensive so I'm basically paying twice as much. Not sure if I'm going to continue with these bags - wish there was another biodegradable alternative....

i love biobags, and use the doggie bags religiously. however, the kitchen bags don't hold up to being stuffed or overstuffed. they stick, rip, leak, and have only worked for me (i use a simplehuman butterfly step can) when i double-bag. like the other reviewed said, they would work great if you are just putting compost in, or in my case i use it to line my bedroom trash and that works great. they can't be filled to the max with heavy trash.