Compostable Bin Liners

melanied_2

Hello,
This is my 1st post so apologies if I'm posting it in the wrong place.

We've just been given kitchen caddies by our local council that use biodegradable cornstarch liners. Problem is, these are 10p each! I've searched in the usual places (ebay, google search etc) but they are all about the same when you add the item and p&p.

I think this is a bit expensive as they are only small and you will need to throw at least 3 or 4 away each week. A normal plastic/ carrier bag is either free or you can buy them wholesale for pennies.

Why are these liners so expensive? Surely, they should be priced so as to encourage people to use them?

Does anyone know where I can get hold of a batch of these (maybe 5,000 or so) any cheaper? My neighbours and I would be grateful for any ideas.

andi2

I bought a batch from here

http://www.caddiesandliners.co.uk/products/food-waste-liners-corn-starch-biobag/small-corn-starch-kitchen-caddy-liner-8-litre

postage is included.

Still not hugely cheap though....

50 rolls is £124.99 (8p each) & says to contact them for larger quantities - worth a try.

(delivery was extremely quick).

Suzy_M

No personal knowledge or experience of these systems but does the council specify you must use a bag? If not why go to the expense of buying something just to throw it away.

If you must does it specify you must use the corn-starch bags? If not are American style grocery sacks acceptable? Known over here as Block Bottom Paper Bags. - Still recyclable and more readily available and reasonably priced than 'eco pound' sellers.

(If you are in/near west Suffolk and know any US Air Force personnel smile sweetly and ask them to save used grocery sacks for you.)

andi2

Don't know about OP's council, but ours say corn starch bags, sheet of newspaper or nothing at all. Problem with the other two options is cleaning the inside caddy when it has been emptied into the outside container (especially in this weather), the bags are much more practical.

kuotone

Tesco's now do the cornstarch bags-10 litre size,£2.50 for 50 which is cheaper than the internet sites

hth:j

suisidevw

That's rediculous. Cardiff Council supply all bags for residents here, green recycling and compostable caddy liners!

melanied_2

Many thanks for your advice guys. The Tesco ones sound great. I'll see is they stock them around here!

tanith

I bought the Tesco ones on Saturday and they are fine... our council is supplying the caddies (I bought my own a year ago) in the next month along with the first roll of compostable bags, after that you're on your own as far as bags are concerned. I used to wrap stuff in newspaper but I find the bags much less messy or smelly...

WestonDave

Am I the only one that thinks there is something peverse in a recycling scheme that aims to reduce land filling of rubbish by getting you to buy something specifically to throw away! What's wrong with a standard brown paper bag such as the ones our veg shop sells produce in?

tanith

I very rarely get paper bags given now as most shops want you to use your own , even veg shops although you are right about buying something to throw away.. but I personally hate having to wash that disgusting smelly caddy everyday in this weather and its so much simpler just to lift out the compostable bag tie it and recycle it.. means I can wash out the caddy once a week instead of every day saving water.... and don't we all buy black sacks for any rubbish that can't be recycled anyway?

jwil

My local council encourages you to use newspaper instead of buying compostable bags. You can't use plastic carrier bags because they do not compost - even biodegradable plastic bags do not compost.

They have produced a short video demonstrating how to line a bin with newspaper to make it less messy.

http://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/pages/New%20Movies.asp