A greener trash night -- biodegradable plastic bags

Even those of us who have cut down the amount of trash we throw away, there is still something else we can do to make trash night greener and it has to do with our choice of bags. Petroleum-based garbage bags will sit in the landfill for approximately 1,000 years or more without decomposing. Isn’t that an unnerving thought? I never gave it a second thought when putting out the trash last night. I usually buy whatever trash bags are on sale and just feel good about the fact that we never even fill up our garbage can anymore.

But today I discovered a greener alternative and I wanted to share it with you. Trash bags made with TDPA technology won’t last over two years in the landfill. They’ll have completely dissolved by then. To me, that’s exciting news! Truegreen has a variety of sizes available of biodegradable plastic trash bags. You can shop for them by clicking on the link on the top of the page.

Truegreen also has other earth-friendly and people-friendly products, such as cleaning supplies, hand soaps, laundry alternatives, treeless paper and jute shopping bags. They’re definitely worth a look.

Biodegradable plastic bags. I never thought about it for my trash...until today. I think I’ll click on and place my order for a greener trash night next week!

Keeping it green,

Hana

More BPA news

The news about plastic just keeps getting worse. Now experts are advising you to stay away from all plastics with the numbers 3, 6, and 7 unless they are specifically marked 'BPA-free.' It's the endrocrine disrupters that are the problem here, because they are linked to a variety of diseases and health disorders including breast cancer and leukemia.

No matter what number graces the bottom of your plastic containers, you should avoid not only putting them in the microwave, but in the dishwasher as well!

I guess it's time to go back to Pyrex and other glass containers that have been safe all along. A little broken glass from time-to-time is far better than exposing your family to the cancer risks associated with BPA.

If only our government would step in here and eliminate BPA completely. But that won't help all of us who already have cupboards full of plastic containers, sippy cups and children's dinnerware.

On the plus-side of things: there is some hope on the horizon. Korean researchers have been working on a less expensive way to make polylactic acid (PLA), which is a non-oil based plastic that is not only safe for food packaging, but is also biodegradable and made from renewable materials! This is good news for both the environment and consumers. Keep your eyes and ears open for developments in this arena.

Keeping it healthy and green,

Hana