Waste isn’t just what’s inside your waste basket, sometimes it IS your waste basket! Think about it, never fail, every time you throw out a bag of trash, you’re committing the trash bag to a very long, wasteful life in some crappy landfill. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone would take a stab at improving the trash bag and making it more green?
Well, PERF did just that with the biodegradable PERF Go Green trash bag. Made of 100% eco-friendly, non-toxic, biodegradable material, they are green and proud of it.
A month or so ago Mrs. Green Gear and I received a nice compliment of 13 gallon kitchen bags and dog waste bags. They were both in nice minimal packaging that had an adhesive on the bottom for attachment to a trash pail or wall. Pull one out, and another follows it up, Kleenex Style. I’ll focus on the trash bags in the review. They are green (duh) brand aware bags with large holes for handles.
I gave half of these to friends, and Mrs. Green Gear and I reviewed the others. The comments were basically the same, The two large handles were so big that when you tied them down you made the bag too small, or if you tied them loose stuff would fall out. I would much prefer the lined plastic tie strip. Also, both people reported ripping when throwing in objects with corners, this is unfortunate as one person said these were very durable and would hold up. On the plus side, they are very nice looking and the Kleenex dispenser is too cool.
But, these are a high class product and charge a high class price, 6.99 for a 12-pack. Still, if you buy in bulk they are less but it isn’t going to give you any cost savings value.
I commend PERF for taking the first steps in the green waste bags and look forward to product improvements in the future.
Video Review below.
RATING: 1 out of 5 Gears for Variable (though I said fixed in the video) Eco Benefit.
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PERG GO GREEN….TRASH BAG FOR OUR GREEN ECONOMY
I love this trash bags and I do believe its the trash bag thats for now.
Not the Future but now I encourage all Sanitation companies to try it.
I love the 13 gallon trash bags that Perf Go Green makes. They have handles & work just as well as regular “non-green” bags, but are biodegradable.
FYI GreenCupboards (online retailer of green, natural products) is having a sale–up to 40% off–on Perf Go Green products like this … Check out the incredible sale (for a limited time) http://www.GreenCupboards.com/Specials
I think most consumers will assume that biodegradable bags are compostable bags. I thought so myself until I read my city’s trash collection requirements for compostables. They will not take compostable trash (from the green trash bin) if it is in non-compostable biodegradable bags like Perf Go Green bags. I think Perf bags are better than regular non-biodegradable bags, but a greener choice will be compostable bags like Biobags which are made of corn. The disadvantages of Biobags are its price (twelve 3-gallon bags for $5.50 at Walgreens) and thinness. They tear easily particularly when you are not careful when you tear the perforated ends as you are separating the bags. I haven’t had any problems with leakage as long as I am careful when separating the bags, use them only for food items and soiled paper products, and take trash out weekly.
I would say that lots of companies are doing their best to manufacture plastic bags that are better for the environment. In fact, the company I represent, Jig-A-Loo, has recently introduced a new line of plastic bags called EconoGreen that are made from:
100% recycled plastic
100% oxodegradable
100% recyclable.
These EconoGreen bags and drop cloths contain an additive that will completely break down within 2 years after use. Considerably less than traditional plastic bags and especially grocery bags that we often use as garbage bags. Plus, you can’t beat the price! An eco-friendly product shouldn’t break the bank!
For more information, visit our Jig-A-Loo website.
This is really interesting take on the concept. I never thought of it that way. I came across this site recently which I think will be of great use http://www.buygreensavvy.com. Have a look!
I used this perf green product..and I have to tell you that I hated putting my hand inside of a trash can. Mentally just trying to stick that sticky to the bottom of the can really grossed me out. I like the fact that the bags are biodegradable and that’s a plus because our family is trying to go green but, when I was done with the box I then had to stick my hand/arm back into the smelly trash can and get that sticky thing off the bottom of the can….wasn’t happy.
And the price is way to much for just 12 bags and it’s not even made in the USA.
My husband and I were Shocked when we saw this product on our grocery store shelf with the claims it is making. I am an environmental scientist, and from basic chemistry in school, I know that plastics Are Not ever truly biodegradable!!!!!!! The additives in these bags simply make the plastics break apart more quickly, leaving behind little bits of plastic that stay in our waste stream and at worst make their way into the water systems and often finally end up accumulating in the oceans. Natural materials like paper bags are truly biodegradable in the sense that they will break all the way down back to their basic elements of carbon, nitrogen, etc.. Plastics will not break all the way back down into raw petroleum, at least not yet, as scientists are working on this very process.
The Biodegradable and even compostable claims made by Perf Go Green are “green washing” at its best and flat out misleading at worst.
I am shocked at how this kind of false green labeling is even allowed under current regulations!
It is my hope that people will use common sense and discernment when choosing green products. A good guideline to follow is : simple and natural as possible is usually best, while flashy high tech green is often misleading or out right false.
I like perf go green but found a better bag and better deal with Pride Green Biodegradable Trash bags. 8 sizes to choose from, including drawstring. Here is the big kicker…PrideGreen is only .08 cents a bag…Perf Go Green is .50 cents a bag. Also, pridegreen is stronger and made with recycled material. You can find them on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=pridegreen
This blog post plays into the hands of the repulsive green washers. What good is a written review of a consumer item, if no investigation into the vercity of its ecological claims are?
By writing this reveiw and glossing over the fact that these just ‘fall apart faster’ and aren’t actually biodegradeable at all, you are working for the enemy.
Well I guess the truth is winning out. Even with the uninformed recommendation on this site the stock of the company has collapsed to $.05. And thats not because of the economy. It is because the product was totally misrepresented in the market and as another reader pointed out. They are not truly biodegradeable and cannot be accepted by municipalities that compost (try all of Seattle for starters).
I tested out a 100% recycled 100% biodegradable bag called PrideGreen in the 13 Gallon and 33 Gallon sizes with draw strings and must say these are the best by far and so much more sturdy than anything else I have seen, yet decomposes in landfill 12 months to 24 it states. The price is great as well and I like everything about the product. I hope to see them in all grocery stores soon. Thanks for making the earth yours….protect it.
Dave,
Instead of trolling the internet making comments on this error at blogs like metaefficient and plasticsnews.com, why don’t you take the next step?
If you prepare a well written, 450-750 word article on the difference between biodegradeable and compostable material, as well as point out some resources and features for people learn more I’ll feature it here on Green Gear under your authorship. I’d be proud to.
That way you can not only educate ignorant bloggers, but the masses as well! How about it? Partner together and do some good.