garbage bags

It appears Trent Hamm of  The Simple Dollar has a problem when it comes to garbage bags.  Like many of us, he is a frugal guy, but one thing he cannot switch to are the cheaper brands of trash bags.  After a couple “incidents” involving cheap bags spilling their contents in his home, he gave up on them and went to an expensive brand.

Trent apparently is not alone in his dislike of cheap garbage bags.  It seems like everyone has some story of a “catastrophic failure” where the 3 month old remnents of some unidentifieable meal of the past has ended up on their living room carpet before reaching the dumpster.  I myself have had the misfortune of witnessing such spills. 

Fortunately, the problem is not the cheap trash bags themselves, but what we treat as garbage and how we prepare it.  I happen to be an advocate of cheap bags, so instead of rushing off to buy those expensive, gimicky ones, keep reading and I’ll teach you how to make cheap trash bag work.

Matt’s Golden Rules of Garbage

You read that heading right; I even have a set of rules pertaining to garbage.  Actually, they are more like guidelines, being there is no punishment if they are not followed.  Instead, you will just be rewarded with saving money by getting to use cheap trash bags. 

 Remember, it is important to follow all of these rules, because each is essential in keeping trash inside the bag and off the floor.

  1. Organic matter is not trash!  Food scraps, plant material, and even your dead goldfish do not belong in the garbage.  Not only do they cause odors, but they also create instability amongst the contents of the bag, which is a recipe for one gigantic mess.  Instead, compost them.  Compost piles are great in that they benefit your garden, as well as the environment.
  2. Liquids should never be put in the garbage!  That trail of liquid garbage you leave from the trash can to the dumpster is your own fault.  Liquids give added weight to a garbage bag, making the likelyhood and extent of spills greater.  Therefore, make sure every container you toss has been completely emptied. 
  3. Recycle!  It is sad that many people never think twice about throwing perfectly recycable material into their garbage can.  Many of these items, such as glass bottles and plastic jugs are bulky and have edges which increase the likelyhood of a puncture.  This doesn’t even consider the fact that some materials, such as alumium and steel can be recycled for profit.  Thus, if you want to use cheap trash bags, sort your recycables and place them in seperate containers.

Final thoughts

I will be the first to admit that cheap trash bags are not nearly as “user-friendly” as their expensive conterparts.  However, if you stop treating your garbage can like a free-for-all dump, you can get by using the bargain ones. 

By following all of the above rules, I promise you your garbage will be more compact, lighter, and contain no hidden “landmines” waiting for you to make the wrong move.  I myself try keep organics and liquids out of my own can, while recycling everything else.  Thus, I am able to use bags from Costco and The Dollar Tree without any problems. 

Remember, the problem is not the bags.  It’s you!