My assessment: you are doing okay. Plastic bags pose the biggest environmental threat when they are improperly disposed of - in your case I assume that concern doesn't apply. From the standpoint of resources, I can't imagine there'd be much difference in the energy and materials required to make plastic bags as opposed to for-purchase trash bags, and buying trash bags requires the extra packaging, since they don't just come as a handful of bags, right?

Probably there are places to buy compostable/biodegradable trash bags in all sizes, but I've only seen them in larger sizes than it sounds like you're using.

Biodegradable bags would probably be better - http://www.amazon.com/BioBag-Food-Waste-Gallon-25/dp/B000E3DWWQ

There are tons of other sources for these of all sizes. This way you don't have to wait in a land fill for the bag to degrade before its contents start to.

Another option is Walmart sells GoodSense recylced trash bags of all sizes and claims minimum 60% recycle content.

In my mind if you do end up with those plastic bags, best to bring them back to your local grocery store and put them in the recycle bag bin.

I'd say you are doing better than most, but not the absolute best possible. Even if larger biodegradable bags are harder on the environment to produce, a non biodegradable bag takes way too long to break down, and does more harm in the long run. If you are using them as trash bags, they are not being recycled. Ideally you would use a biodegradable bag even if it is a little larger. Could you even use a paper bag, preferably of recycled paper? It sounds like you take the trash out often enough that would not be a problem. That being said, using the small non-biodegradable bag is still better than using a large non-biodegradable bag and that is more than most people do.

Don't use bags at all. It's a little more work but when the can gets dirty, hose it out.

Biodegradable bags aren't always a better choice. They still require air to decompose, and many landfills aren't turned often enough to provide enough air for the bags to break down. BioBag in particular mentions that here: http://www.biobagusa.com/biodegradable-bags.html. This page says much the same thing, though it's not a scientific source/site: http://environment.about.com/od/recycling/a/biodegradable.htm.

I've also heard that biodegradable bags can begin to break down in the can if you put wet materials in them, though I don't have any experience with that.

In an ideal situation, we'd all reuse as much as possible, compost and recycle as much of the waste as possible, and then toss garbage directly into the can and hose it out as necessary (as foodiegirl suggests).

My family has been doing this for years. We even invested in a dispenser that we can stuff all of our plastic bags in for later use. While probably not the 'best' solution, you're giving those bags at least one reuse.

The absolute best solution would probably be to compost any and all organic refuse you have, and send the rest off for recycling. Though, since you live in an apartment, it may not be feasible for you to compost everything.

What? People actually buy little trash bags? I grew up lining trash cans with Safeway (and WalMart and King Soopers etc etc) sacks. Huh...

Now I am trying to set up a compost bin and don't line my cans, but I can't ever seem to remember to a) bring my canvas bags to the store, or b) bring my plastic bags BACK to the store to recycle. Sigh.

Good question about the biodegradable. I don't think anyone has all the answers, but my reasoning is that it isn't worse in the landfill if it takes just as long to decompose and if it ends up anywhere else on accident at least it is a little better or can be gotten rid of if we need to. The question about the methane however is a good one that bears considering.

Apartment composting is very feasible if you combine it with recycling.

This website has good tips about balance in your bin, and what types of bins work for apartments. They have small counter top ones and carbon filters can get rid of the smell. Great thing is, you can even sell the compost on craigslist if you don't use it!

http://webecoist.com/2009/02/18/how-to-compost-in-an-apartment-or-urban-living-space/

Here is the way I look at it:

#1: Why should you BUY trashbags when you can get them free. This is putting a demand on the trash bag producing companies. While it is using more grocery bags, they are free, and are smaller and sometimes thinner which uses less plastic and they are going to be made anyway for many years to come. Plus for someone who produces little trash, it is more feasible. It is better that someone makes very little trash. And they are being used dual-duty. Paper bags may break down better, put de-forestation is a bigger problem in this world than using 1 plastic bag.

#2: Just think about ALL the plastic that goes into the trash. Is a little grocery bag, which is being used instead of a trash bag going to make a big difference? I think the point is to create less of a demand on making plastic instead of it just taking space in a landfill.

#3:Compostable bags don't work, because when they go into a landfill there is no oxygen to break them down. Second, it's not sustainable to support Wal-Mart, as someone suggested to buy these bags.

#4: Not using a trashbag causes more litter.

Actually, not all biodegradable bags require air to decompose. Green Genius makes trash bags and food storage bags, that completely biodegrade in anaerobic (no air) conditions. To use a compostable bag for your trash doesn't make sense-- b/c to compost, that material requires municipal compost conditions. Frankly, the fact that we need landfills at all is a bummer, but until we can achieve zero waste, it's better to use a material that will vanish even in landfills, rather than stick around for 1,000 years!

http://www.thegreengenius.com

Well here in DC we have to pay $.05 for every plastic bag we get from the supermarket, or take-out restaurant or wherever. So needless to say everyone- from hipsters to grandmas uses reusable bags. And since we never have plastic grocery bags lying around, my roommate and I buy "recycled/green/eco" trash bags for our kitchen trashcan and empty our smaller bathroom and bedroom waste baskets into the kitchen bag before taking out the garbage.

I do wonder what lots of cat owners are doing in DC these days though. Back when I had a cat old grocery bags were perfect for cleaning out the kitty litter box...

For those that suggested not using bags at all or using brown paper bags, make sure you check if there are any regulations regarding trash (in your lease, your apartment/condo/homeowners association documentation/handbook, or in your city refuse collection regulations).

In some places, trash must be placed in plastic bags at the curb, and tied/knotted shut. Or even in plastic bags IN a trash can (no joke). Or trash must be contained before placed in your apartment garbage cans (in this case a paper bag may be acceptable).

As for the kitty litter, lkguge, if it's the clumping kind, wrap it up in newspaper. :)

I live in an apartment as well. Since I have to put my trash into a large bag-lined trash can in the alley anyway, I don't see any point in tying up my trash in a separate bag. I take my can down to the big can and just empty it. No extra bags needed.

Since I save my food scraps for compost, I don't have anything messy or smelly in my trash cans. I also try not to buy one-use items and I try to buy items with limited packaging so I don't make very much trash at all.

Unless you need to tie your trash up (like some of the folks above have mentioned) I suggest skipping the bags altogether!

There's a site "trashybags.org" where they use plastic bags to make tote bags, but it's in Africa, and I guess they have enough trash of their own. But maybe some crafters could think of something to do with them.
I understand that more recycled plastic is being used to make products that are not intended to break down like swings, playground stuff,etc.

My partner and I have trained ourselves really well, using our big stash of cloth bags for all grocery trips. I even have two cloth bags in the car for random shopping events, BUT once a month we run out of garbage bags and so we leave the reusables at home and get our groceries bagged up in double brown bags. This gives us about 8 garbage bags for the month..(the clumping kitty litter takes up half of these). Before we had the luxury of composting with a neighbor, who set up a community composting bin, we simply froze the food scraps that might be moist or stinky and took them out the day of garbage pick up.
A good blog for people interested in reducing the garbage they produce more is The Green Garbage Project. A friend just told me about it, and I have found some helpful tips.

http://greengarbageproject.adammathiasdesign.com/

I agree with some of the responses here; why purchase a thick bag when you can just use the thin ones you got for free at the grocery store. I never thought of throwing the trash directly in the bin without a bag then rinsing it out every so often. How does that impact garbage collection? In my neighborhood garbage pickup is once per week. What would happen to all that trash while it was waiting??? I need to also mention that I live in Florida, so I think it might get a little oozy and gooey with the 108 heat index we've had for the past 3 months.... But it's a thought. Maybe the best thing is to recycle as MUCH as you can, buy items with less material to trash, and compost. hopefully then you'd use less plastic bags to line the bins.

this may sound crazy - but my mother has been doing this for as long as i can remember - by the time you sort out what you can recycle and what you can compost - you should only have a small amount of trash that needs to go out - she uses old newspapers to line the trash bin.

it sounds gross and its a bit of work - but since the stuff you're eventually throwing out shouldn't have that much moisture - you end up with a small paper package which definitely biodegrades and you don't have to take any of the plastic grocery bags.

it takes a bit of getting used to at first, but its definitely worthwhile. i end up each day with a small-ish package of trash and i don't have to take any of the grocery bags.

hope that helps

You don't need a liner for your trashcan. If its dirty, just wash it. Skip the plastic bag at the market and bring your canvas tote. If you have food trash, you already know what you should be doing with it (compost - i live in an apartment and have no problems with this). The rest of the "trash" you create can probably be recycled anyway.

If you feel the need to line your bags, then here is a trick I picked up when we began cloth diapering our daughter - use pail liners. When they get dirty, simply toss them in with your rags/cleaning cloths/towels whatever you want. Easier and less icky than cleaning out the can, and less wasteful than plastic bags.

We find that these ones fit our very small bathroom and bedroom size cans -
http://www.swaddlebees.com/Products/Accessories/bwbag_2
And these are great for kitchen size bags -
http://www.nickisdiapers.com/catalog.php?category=207

Plus, you can color coordinate!

I have the same problem, though I did buy bin liners because I ran out of grocery bags. I only line the kitchen garbage though, and just add any garbage from other bins to that bag when I take out the garbage.

Also just like to say, if you don't line your can, then how do you take out the garbage? Any place I've ever lived (granted, that's only 2 cities), garbage is placed at the curb in bags, no lose garbage in a big can. Your garbage needs to be in something in order for the trash disposal company to collect it.

You can just line the one large bin and empty your smaller ones from inside the home into it.