BIOBAGS

GREEN TIP
Brought to you by the MdTL Green Committee
Did you know that MdTL uses Biobags instead of plastic garbage bags? Here’s why…
* Plastic bags are littering our landscape and putting toxic chemicals into our waterways.
Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide, which comes out to over one million per minute. Billions end up as litter each year. According to the EPA, over 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are consumed in the U.S. alone each year. Plastic bags break down into small toxic bits that contaminate the ground and waterways. These toxic plastic bits enter the food chain when ingested by animals. And hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales and other marine mammals die every year from eating discarded plastic bags mistaken for food. Furthermore, plastic bags are a by-product of the petroleum industry, so our constant use of plastic bags has an impact on the cost of oil.
* Biocompostable, biodegradable, corn-based “Biobags” have less impact on the environment than plastic bags.
Biobags use no polyethylene in the production process and are made from biodegradable corn polymer, which is a renewable resource. The corn that is used is not of food grade, so it will not interfere with edible corn supplies or costs. Biobags are GMO free, and the inks and dyes for printing are soy-based. If disposed of in a compost bin, these bags will biodegrade in as little as 30-60 days in composting conditions.
* Make sure to compost your Biobags instead of placing them in the landfill!
This may come as a surprise, but when placed in a landfill, Biobags are actually worse for the environment than plastic bags. This is due to the anaerobic conditions in landfills (i.e. no air because the waste is buried), which causes methane gas to be created when the Biobags decompose. Methane gas is a far more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. So please be sure to dump the garbage from the Biobag into your waste receptacle, and then to place the Biobag in the compost!
* When possible, re-use your Biobags, or use your garbage cans without any liners at all!
Since Biobags are compostable, they will eventually start to break down when in contact with excessive moisture. But until it begins to break down, you can re-use your Biobag as long as possible. In some situations, a liner such as a Biobag makes for much more efficient cleaning, especially at large events or in industrial situations. But at home, consider using your garbage cans without any liners at all. Although Biobags will not affect the environment as strongly as plastic bags, it still takes fossil fuels to grow the “renewable” corn. The best way for us to reduce our use of any kind of bag, whether plastic or Biobag, is to reduce our garbage output!