Taking Out the Trash

Q. I’m attempting to wean myself off plastic bags. Can you suggest an economical alternative that could be used as a trash can liner?
—Lisa; Columbus, Georgia

A. A few obvious ideas strike me: Don’t use trash bags at all; use recycled or biodegradable plastic bags; or, reuse someone else’s bags.

Is it possible to forego trash bags altogether? It sounds disgusting, but if we reduced our garbage as we should, the grossness might ebb. We could reduce our garbage’s mass and moisture by recycling, composting and by frequently emptying the trash bin. We could wash the trash can often so it wouldn’t get stinky.

Through serious whole-family commitment, the no-bag option might be feasible—at least until the trash leaves the house. Unfortunately, my garbage service doesn’t allow loose trash; yours might. If not, it may still be possible to line the outdoor can with one large bag so you could empty household garbage into the giant bag and tie it shut just before pickup day. Call your garbage collection service to find out whether loose trash is allowed and if it limits the size of individual bags.

Until you find a no-bag trash option, buy trash bags made with recycled plastic or those that are biodegradable (although they won’t break down in anaerobic landfill conditions). My final idea is to reuse someone else’s plastic bags. Offer to collect your friends’ used shopping bags, and you’ll have small garbage bags for months. Nonrecyclable bags you can’t avoid using, such as those coated-paper dog food bags, also make acceptable garbage bags on occasion. Again, check with the garbage collectors to see if these pass muster.

Up in Smoke

Q. We heat our house primarily by wood, in an efficient, EPA-rated woodstove. We recycle all our paper, paperboard and cardboard, but would it be better to burn it? As it is, we drive it to the recycling center, then they ship it off somewhere to be processed and shipped back out as a product. If we burn it we get some heat, and ashes to spread on our garden. Which is better for paper: recycling or burning?
—Joan; Bremen, Maine