How to Store Compostable Trash Bags So They Last

Compostable trash bags are built to break down, which is exactly why they need a little more care in storage than a conventional plastic bag. Stored right, they hold up fine until you use them. Stored badly, they can get brittle or weak before they reach the bin. Here is how to keep them in good shape.

Why compostable bags need special storage

A compostable bag is designed to break down when it meets heat, moisture, and microbes. That is the point. But it also means the same conditions that compost a bag will start to weaken one sitting in your cupboard. Heat, humidity, and direct sunlight all speed up the process before you ever fill the bag.

Where and how to store them

• Cool, dry, and dark. A closed cupboard or drawer away from the oven, dishwasher, and sunny windows is ideal.
• Keep them sealed. Leave bags in their box or a closed container so they are not exposed to kitchen humidity.
• Do not stockpile. Compostable bags have about a 12-month shelf life, so buy what you will use in a season or two rather than years ahead.

Heat, cold, and the winter problem

Extreme temperatures are hard on these bags at both ends. Heat and humidity start the breakdown early, while very cold conditions can make a bag brittle and more likely to crack. If you keep bags in a garage or store waste outdoors, that swing is usually the culprit behind a bag that fails. Keeping them indoors at a steady room temperature solves most of it.

Using them in a busy kitchen

Compostable bags handle daily kitchen waste well with a couple of habits. Do not overfill them, since they are meant to be changed a little more often than a thick plastic liner. Empty a bag before it gets too heavy or saturated with wet scraps, and for very wet waste, let things drain or add some paper to balance the moisture. Used this way, Plastno's compostable trash bags hold up through the day and then break down properly once they reach a compost setting.