We often get asked, "What other options are out there if plastic bags are gone?" First and foremost, always try to reuse old bags such as newspaper bags, tortilla bags, etc. and always use reusable bags when going to the grocery store.
The second option can be compostable and biodegradable bags. But be careful! There are many companies out there, such as Trellis Earth, that aren't actually compostable. Portland also does not yet offer "at-home" composting like it does for businesses, so you need to make sure you are discarding your compostable bag correctly. When compostable bags go to the landfill they never actually break down! And they release methane, which is a potent green house gas.
Portland businesses can opt to compost with the Portland Composts! program where it gets shipped to Cedar Grove Compost Facility north of Seattle, WA. For a full list of bags accepted at the facility click here.
We've done our homework here at the Portland Chapter and have found BioBag offers the largest selection of biodegradable/compostable bags that are accepted at Cedar Grove, are made GMO-free, and are made in the USA. They even break down in your back yard compost! Just make sure not to put in too many, poke and turn it a lot.
