Can the composting bags be reused? Having to regularly buy bags is not consistent with my lifestyle.
1138831
The bags are compostable, thus over time they weaken and break down - that is how they are designed. We have had them hold up strongly for a little over a week in the bin, but they start to weaken after that. This bin is really more for composting small amounts in an apartment where you take down your compost regularly to be cleared away by a community compost service.
1138832
Probably not unless you use your own grocery or produce bag. The compostible bags suggested for use with this product start to break down as soon as you store your vegie/fruit peels in them.
1138833
No. The bags are biodegradable (compostable) so they cannot be re-used. Mine last about a week if I'm careful not to put too much wet stuff in the bin. Longer than that and the bags start to degrade and leak. Shelf life, however, seems to be quite good. They begin to break down only after being in contact with organics.
1138834
This product works based on aerobic decomposition. The compostable, plant-based bags breathe preventing bacteria build up and the smell normally associated with composting. If you use regular plastic bags this aerobic process will not occur and you'll have stinky mess like the regular compost bins.
1138835
No, they can't be reused because they are designed to decompose very quickly. If you wait too long to empty the bag from your bin, you'll run a definite risk of it falling apart before you get it into the compost bin. I have a credit card that accumulated points on Amazon. When I need more bags (which are only about $5 for 75 bags), I just use my points on Amazon to buy them. They end up being free for me. My family composts and recylces more than we put things in the landfill trash. So we go through 2 bags a week on average. 75 bags lasts us a good several months. It really like the bin. It is the only one I've ever seen or had that truly does not smell. Hope this helps. No, they can't be reused because they are designed to decompose very quickly. If you wait too long to empty the bag from your bin, you'll run a definite risk of it falling apart before you get it into the compost bin. I have a credit card that accumulated points on Amazon. When I need more bags (which are only about $5 for 75 bags), I just use my points on Amazon to buy them. They end up being free for me. My family composts and recylces more than we put things in the landfill trash. So we go through 2 bags a week on average. 75 bags lasts us a good several months. It really like the bin.... » Read More No, they can't be reused because they are designed to decompose very quickly. If you wait too long to empty the bag from your bin, you'll run a definite risk of it falling apart before you get it into the compost bin. I have a credit card that accumulated points on Amazon. When I need more bags (which are only about $5 for 75 bags), I just use my points on Amazon to buy them. They end up being free for me. My family composts and recylces more than we put things in the landfill trash. So we go through 2 bags a week on average. 75 bags lasts us a good several months. It really like the bin. It is the only one I've ever seen or had that truly does not smell. Hope this helps. « Show Less
1138836
I wouldn't reuse them and I also didn't put them in my compost pile. When I put the food waste in my compost pile, then I just burn the used bag. I have found that regardless of what they say, they don't break down very readily. I don't buy more bags, I just use the plastic bags from.Walmart and the grocery stores. You can cut the handles of the bag then tie each of the ends together and tuck down into the sides of the bin. Other than that, I really like the bin. Hope that helps as, like you, I did n't want to keep BUYING the bags.
923517
I guess they could be reused, depending on what was stored in them, you could cut them open and reseal them. I use them mainly to freeze meat. Therefore, you would not want to reuse them. I don't think I would reuse them at all because of bacteria from foods. Also they are great quality bags.
377105
Bags are an option, but not needed. The containers could be replaced weekly, or many times we will just empty them and reuse them for several weeks. We have never tried the bags.
161069
You need to order the foodsaver baggies. There is a cut out that you attach the vacuum to in order to pull out the air. Depending on what you put in them they can be washed, dried well and reused i.e. Veggies, baked goods. I wouldn't reuse bags that had any meat, fish or poultry due to potentional cross contamination. Hope this helps.
683565
Yes. They can be removed. What I don't know though is whether replacement bags could be purchased when it's become washed to death.
258254
Of course. They aren't terribly expensive, so you can certainly just throw out bags instead of emptying them. It's simply a function of time vs. money. It's also less messy to simply replace a bag than try to empty it without clouds of dust engulfing your work space.
24618
I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to do that but it is not really necessary since they are dried out and not prone to mold, etc. I have had the same bag for over a year and they are totally fine and just as fresh as when I got them. I just close it up really well and then stick the sack into another bag and keep that closed up good also. That's all you need to do.
2081040
What I've done is filled 5 large ZipLoc's with about 5lbs each to maintain freshness, and gave a couple of the bags to my sister to help speed up consumption. We didn't notice any degradation in quality after a few months. (And you can easily re-use those ZipLoc's for the same thing or anything else since rice doesn't really make them dirty.)
2083195
Yes you can. I've had several different Trashrac's over the years (this one has a few improvements), and I've always used the same bags. Darlene C.
302185
I haven't reused mine at this point. In my opinion, I believe that once emptied, I could clean them and reuse.
1970036
IMHO it would be awkward to try and use a plastic bag inside these bins, not saying it can't be done just that it would be awkward. We fill them up and carry them to our larger curbside pick-up recycle bin.
1069894
I'm pretty sure you could use the grounds in a compost. Try burying a used pod in a little soil and see what happens. The paper doesn't seem coated, so I'm sure it would degrade. My City wouldn't take them with normal recycling, unless all the grounds were removed first.
1563069
Nowhere on the package does it indicate that these bags are biodegradable. If they were, they would certainly advertise it as such. Compostable bags are considerably more expensive because they are not made from plastic. If you want compostable bags, search with that specific term.
2254554
You can use the Compost Caddy without bags, but that would require constant cleaning of the container. The bags are WONDERFUL and make it very easy to just lift the bag out of the Compost Caddy and place it in our compost bin.
1103010
Yes you do. However, if you register at their site they will give you a $5 off coupon and if you have single stream recycling (like I do), you're not having to replace the bag all that often since you're dumping it into the bin. One bag lasts a week or more for us; which is significant since a vast majority of our "garbage" is recyclables.
1391789
Yes, you could use a bag, a smallish one. But it is so easy to dump and clean because of the curved bottom that I don't feel it is necessary. I'm trying to get away from using more bags than absolutely necessary, and I dump the contents into my compost bin nearly every day and then wash out the Oxo.
2184176
Yes, you could re-use them the same as you would for regular zip-loc bags. But keep in mind, as in my previous review as well as others, these bags do not seal well. I am constantly having to go back and pump air out of them. They are a made from a different material also that causes a lot of static and causes dry foods, spices extra to get caught up into the zip seal.