Greener Trash

 

Since I have started recycling full force I have noticed that the amount of trash that we have to throw away has gone from about a bag a week (14 gallon bag) to like a bag a month.  This is all and well except for the fact that if you throw away food the smell after like 2 weeks is horrendous.  I couldn’t see throwing away almost empty trash bags because that was just a waste. 

{Enter plastic shopping bags}

 

Note:  This works best if you live in a city that has trash pick up and all you have to do is put your barrel out on the curb once a week.

And I know, plastic bags are hardly green, but why would you buy big plastic bags just to throw your trash away when you can get them for free when you go shopping? Most of what you buy at a grocery store your are either going to eat or you can recycle. I do not have the option to compost because of living in an apartment because then I would probably have virtually nothing to throw away.  But for the thing i do need to throw away I have now gone from large trash bags in my trash to the plastic shopping bags you get at the grocery store.  After a few days one has filled up so all I have to do is close it up and bring it down to the barrel outside of the house.

Sure, how often do you have to buy trash bags?  But when you think about it, using what stores give you for free can save you about $50 a year.  Not to mention, you are putting less plastic into landfills.  Still, I recommend having canvas totes for most of your shopping because if you recycle the maximum then you won’t have that much to throw away.  I have found that going shopping about once a month (or less depending) and getting plastic bags is enough!