When it comes to disposing of trash and waste, many people are turning to biodegradable and compostable trash bags as an eco-friendly option. These bags are made from renewable resources and can be broken down by microorganisms, reducing waste in landfills. But what’s the difference between biodegradable and compostable trash bags? In this article, we’ll explain the difference between these two types of trash bags and why they’re important for the environment.
Biodegradable Trash Bags
Biodegradable trash bags are made from plant-based materials such as cornstarch or potato starch. These materials can be broken down by microorganisms in a process called biodegradation. This process can be accelerated by adding oxygen, water or light to the environment, resulting in the breakdown of the plastic bag into smaller pieces which can then be absorbed back into nature. The time it takes for a biodegradable bag to break down depends on environmental conditions but is generally much faster than traditional plastic bags which can take hundreds of years.
One major benefit of biodegradable trash bags is that they reduce waste in landfills. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans generate more than 250 million tons of municipal solid waste each year and nearly half of it ends up in landfills or incinerators. By switching to biodegradable bags, people are helping reduce this amount of waste going into landfills while also preserving natural resources like oil which is used to make traditional plastic bags.
Compostable Trash Bags
Compostable trash bags are made from plant-based materials that can break down into nutrients for plants when exposed to air, moisture and soil organisms found in compost piles or bins. This process is called composting, which is different from biodegradation because it produces a nutrient-rich fertilizer that helps nourish soil instead of just breaking down the material into smaller pieces like with biodegradation. Composting also takes longer than biodegradation but generally only takes several months instead of hundreds of years like traditional plastic bags would take to break down completely.
The benefits of using compostable trash bags include reducing waste in landfills as well as providing nutrient-rich fertilizer for plants which helps improves soil health and increases water retention capacity in soils. Composting also helps capture carbon dioxide emissions released during decomposition so it’s an environmentally friendly way to dispose of organic waste without contributing additional greenhouse gases into our atmosphere like burning garbage would do.
Overall, both compostable and biodegradable trashbags offer an eco-friendly alternative over traditional plastic when disposing organic waste such as food scraps or yard trimmings . Biodegradation provides a quick way to get rid of organic material while composting offers long term benefits such as providing nutrient rich fertilizer for plants and capturing carbon dioxide emissions released during decomposition . By using these alternatives over traditional plastics , people can help reduce their environmental impact while still being able to dispose organic material quickly and efficiently .
