There's a Downside to Being Frugal

I've discovered a downside to being frugal.  When you don't often shop in conventional shops and most of your supermarket shopping involves a) shopping in Aldi so you have to pay if you want a carrier bag, and b) pretty much always using a shopping trolley so you don't need bags anyway, you end up with a dearth of carrier bags to line the kitchen bin.  Things have got so bad that I've used every carrier bag that was big enough to fit in (and a few that weren't - not a clever idea!) in the house to line the pedal bin, and today I've had to capitulate and actually buy bin-liner bags. 

I think I can honestly say that I've never bought a pedal-bin bag before in my whole life - they've always seemed to me one of those unnecessary items, like air freshener or tissues in fancy boxes, that people buy who've got more money than sense.   The ones I bought did come from Aldi (I didn't actually know they sold them, never having looked before) so would have been pretty cheap, although to my shame I'm not entirely sure how much they cost!

I think it's really good that the consumption of carrier bags has fallen so dramatically in the UK lately, and long may it continue 'cos those things are just evil in landfill - even if, like me, you've re-used them as pedal-bin liners.  But it does seem a bit odd to then have to actually buy 'new' plastic bags in order to line a bin.  Does anyone out there have a suggestion for something else that can be used to line pedal-bins - something a bit more environmentally friendly?

Comments

[Teresa Davies]

Hi MGU, I always used to use carrier bags in my bin until I became more environmentally aware then I began to buy biodegradable bags and take the few carriers I have for recycling. Admittedly they're more expensive than non-bio bags but I try to reduce my impact on land-fill as much as I can. Don't know if there's a better alternative at the moment. Trying to reduce the amount of rubbish in general means fewer bags for me anyway. BTW - like keeping up with your blog.

[Caroline]

Funnily enough, I was reading an article only this week about how, although supermarkets have massively reduced the amount of carrier bags they give out, sales of bin liners have gone up hugely as well.

[The Shopping Sherpa]

You could:

a) look for another bin second hand that doesn't need liners (you might have to wash it out a bit more often)

or

b) try one of the zero waste projects so you're not throwing anything out in the first place...

[sharie]

I use carriers in my bin and also to scoop up dog poo.

Now I'll have to BUY bin bags (can't face the thought of having a smelly bin in the kitchen) and nappy sacks to scoop up the poo.

I know where you are coming from on this.

[Melissa]

have your less environmentally aware friends bring you their excess! At least you know they'll be used again!

[Zoe]

I also have this problem. Firstly I am trying to reduce waste so I empty the bin less often. For example I am switching to a flushable cat litter, and I compost and recycle as much as I can. Secondly my friends at work give me their used bags. I discovered that one of them used to just throw them away! Finally in an emergency I have bought some biodegradable bin liners, although I haven't had to use many yet!

[Zippy]

Where do you think flushable cat litter goes eventually? Out of sight ....