The Best Brands of Eco-Friendly Bin Liners
SEEP Bin Bags are ‘home compostable’ (though you won’t compost them at home, they are safe to send to landfill). Made from an innovative Italian bioplastic, they are made in Belgium with clean energy, in a factory that recirculates all water used.
You won’t find these in most shops at present, so order online (free delivery over £30). Sold in four sizes (20 liners per roll), choose from:
- 10 litre (small bins, bathroom bins & compost caddies).
- 30 & 50 litre (standard kitchen bins)
- 70 litres (large kitchen bins & garden waste)
SEEP bin bags use only plant-based sources like corn starch. Unlike standard plastic bags, they don’t come from oil or fossil fuels. These natural ingredients break down without releasing toxic chemicals into the soil or air.
Reinforced (to prevent leaks)
These are reinforced to prevent leaks, though SEEP recommends using a piece of old cardboard on the bottom to soak up liquids, and not to use with hot liquids, grease/oil or wool/animal products.
It’s also important to store them in a cool dark place, and use them within 12 months (or they will biodegrade away!) It also helps to empty them more often, due to faster decomposition.
Many products claim to be biodegradable, yet still linger in landfills for years. SEEP bin bags are certified as both biodegradable and compostable (for industrial composting systems, so just bin and a green council should do the rest).
SEEP bin bags come in sizes to fit most UK household bins. There’s no need to squeeze or stretch them, and they arrive in handy rolls that are easy to tear off.
Why Choose Compostable Bin Bags?
Biodegradable bin bags break down by bacteria but this can take months or years. Compostable bin bags obviously are not composted at home due to what’s inside (cloth nappies, dog poo, non-recyclable items).
So the answer is to buy compostable bin bags, and vote for greener councils who invest in industrial composting systems that use certain heat and humidity, to safely break bags and rubbish down into water and carbon dioxide, usually within 12 weeks.
Unused black bin bags can’t be recycled, as machines don’t recognise the colour. To get them out of your town once and for all, communities can pool to buy a Terracycle Plastic Bag Recycling Box (from £100 to £160, the largest taking 1300 plastic bin bags).
This is placed in a local shop or community centre, then sent off when full using the prepaid label, to be made into industrial piping etc.
Bumboo’s 50 Litre Eco Bin Liners
Bumboo Bin Liners are made in the UK from plant-based polymers and reinforced with graphene, they combine strength with responsible end‑of‑life. They keep smells in, keep liquids contained, and break down cleanly at industrial composting sites.
The core material is a mix of sugar‑based PLA and ethically sourced cornstarch, strengthened with a layer of graphene, the carbon material linked to a Nobel Prize in Physics. It gives toughness without adding bulk and helps to lock in odours and moisture.
Each 50 litre bag supports up to 10 kg of household waste without splitting. These liners meet EN 13432 standards for compostable materials and are suitable for industrial composting.
Bumboo liners help stop leaks, hold their shape, and keep smells under control. That means fewer mid‑week bin changes and less scrubbing out the bin itself.
Reusable Bin Liners (for dry waste)
Moonie Reusable Bin Liners are a good option for ‘dry waste’ (you can’t wash them, as this would release microplastics). But they have seamless bottoms and are easy to empty into refuse trucks, and use again.
The smaller versions area ideal to store swim shoes, cloth nappies or gym gear, or even keep as a portable trash bag for the car.
For normal waste, read about biodegradable bin liners.
Do You Have to Use Bin Bags?
Technically no. Most councils use mechanical lifters to empty bins into trucks, so refuse workers won’t be touching your rubbish. Bin liners simply prevent ‘ickiness’. If you choose reusable over disposable, you could end up with a ‘dry bin’ and not need liners.
What About Gull-Proof Sacks?
Gull-Proof Sacks are made from thick woven plastic, the idea that they are emptied into refuse trucks, then returned to you, for use again. The Velcro closing is designed to stop wildlife ripping bags apart.
They are good inventions, if kept indoors until collection day, and only used for dry waste. Some councils have trialled theme but cancelled the trials. As empty bags kind of act like parachutes, filling with air and blowing down the street.
And as with ‘reusable bin liners’, they are at risk of vermin, if used for wet waste (and you need a microfiber filter to wash them, to stop synthetic microplastics escaping the machine, and going out to sea).
- Only use for ‘dry rubbish’ (no food waste or dirty nappies!)
- Keep them indoors (brought in immediately after collection)
Of course the real answer is to give seagulls back their natural homes (at the seaside, where they eat fish) and don’t drop lots of litter or over-fill bins). All creatures are opportunistic eaters. And if there was not lots of leftover food waste in the first place, these unwelcome visitors at your bin, would not be there!
EKO (quality kitchen recycling bins)
EKO Recycling Bins are good one-off purchases (the basic one is less than £50) that fit into small spaces with soft-closed lids and inside rings, to keep bin bags securely in place. These are ideal to keep goods, until recycling day.
Current EKO Offers:
- SAVING5 (£5 off for orders of £20 to £80)
- SAVING10 (£10 off for orders of £80 to £150)
- SAVING10 (£15 off for orders of £150+)
For food waste bins, just bin allium scraps (onion, garlic, shallots, leeks, chives) and citrus/rhubarb scraps, as acids may harm compost creatures. Same for coffee grounds and tea leaves (use a sink drainer) to avoid clogged drains.
Most models have two or three compartments, so you can separate general waste, recycling, and food scraps on the spot. With clear icons and colour-coded liners.
No one wants kitchen odours wafting through the house. EKO bins fight smells with tight-fitting lids and built-in odour filters. Many models use replaceable charcoal filters that trap and neutralise unwanted scents.
