Garbage bags and other plastic bags are still a huge problem for our environment. That's why today I'm going to show you a way to Folding plastic-free bin liners can. I'm now going to give you a simple folding guide that you can use to turn an old newspaper into a bin bag. You don't need any glue either. An old newspaper is the only thing you need to fold newspaper bin liners. Let's go!
Why fold plastic-free bin liners?
One trillion plastic bags. That is the estimated number of plastic bags used worldwide each year. 90% of them end up in landfill. The average European citizen uses around 500 plastic bags. If you only count the bin liners, you end up with around 176. In Germany, 10,000 plastic bags are used every minute.₁ As you can see, it is high time that something was changed. The Zero Waste Lifestyle is already more than just a trend. And these DIY instructions for your newspaper bin liners are an important part of it.
Folding newspaper bin liners - here's how to do it
1) First unfold two layers of newspaper.
2) Fold the short side of the newspaper inwards to form a square. Then fold the top left edge to the opposite side.
3) You can cut off the excess newspaper with scissors. If you fold the square, you should now have a triangle.
4) Fold a point on the opposite side of the newspaper.
5) Take two layers of paper and fold them upwards. Stick the tips into the resulting "pocket".
6) Turn the newsprint over. Repeat the process on the other side.
7) This is how it should look in the end.
8) Finally, you can fold over the ends of the bag base so that the bag can stand upright. That's it!
Folding newspaper bin liners is easy!
As you can see, it's really easy to fold bin liners from newspaper. The DIY bin liners can also be used for the Compost can be used. Newspaper inks are now free of heavy metals and insoluble in water₂ (except for magazines). If you want to fold plastic-free bin liners, you can also use them for other things. For example, for transporting nuts, fruit, vegetables or other groceries in the supermarket. You can also use newspaper use for wrapping gifts.
Have you ever folded your bin bag out of newspaper or do you have any questions or suggestions about the DIY instructions? Then please write me a comment.
Best wishes and have fun trying it out,
PS: Would you like to find out more about how to plastic free living can? Then click on the linked article!
References:
₁ http://berlintuetwas.de/zahlen-und-fakten-zu-plastiktueten
₂ https://www.lfu.bayern.de/buerger/doc/uw_31_kompostierung_umsetzung.pdf
Hello Tabea, I find your page super and have tried to craft the garbage bags. Unfortunately, I failed quite... Either I'm doing something wrong or it does not work, in any case, the inserted corners slip out with me constantly. Even when the bag is empty, the corners suddenly slip out again and the bag falls apart. Also, I don't understand what you mean by "folding the ends of the bottom of the bag". Which ends fold over and how? The bag doesn't actually have a "bottom", it just stands on one edge. Even if I squeeze it a bit, it doesn't turn into a bottom so that the bag stands. In your last picture, I also find it a bit confusing that you can't see the opening of the bag.
Can you help me?
Thank you and best regards
Gina
Hi Gina, thanks for your comment 🙂 If you flatten the bottom (what you call the edge) a bit from the inside, the bag will stand better. You can then also try pressing lightly into the center of the bottom with your fingers from the other side of the bottom (from the outside). If the bag still does not stand, you can try it with a layer of more newspaper, then the bag is altogether thicker. This also ensures that the corners do not slip out of the "bag". Alternatively, you can leave the cut edge on the newspaper from the front and just click it around so that the newspaper is a square from the beginning. This also makes the bag more stable.
Love greetings
Tabea
Nice idea. But unfortunately just fitting the cosmetic bin when I take a normal newspaper. Even if it would be big enough for the kitchen garbage, it is not risky in winter what fly and maggots then in the gray garbage cans. Is yes then nothing closed and there is almost risk with kitchen waste but large
Hi Tabea, I would sew the bag, put several double sides on half, sew up the long side, bottom too, Then press bottom in a bit and put an extra layer of newspaper in. When full, roll up the top. Lg Gabi
Hi Gabi! Thanks for your feedback and tips! We'll give it a try 🙂
Many greetings
Christoph
Hello Tabea. I think your idea of avoiding plastic bags is basically good. However, the size of the bag does not convince me at all. M. E. much too small, or I'm doing something wrong. ???♀️
Then I prefer to take a newspaper page - unfolded - put the waste on it (potato peel etc.) and then crumple it up for the garbage can. ?
Hello Corinna,
Thanks for your comment 🙂 In fact, the garbage bags are relatively small. The advantage to them is just that you can easily compost them. If you're looking for a bigger alternative, there are also some options. For example, some use toilet paper packaging (if you buy the regular one from the supermarket). A friend of mine always picks up clean plastic bags lying around on the sidewalk on her way home (when you start paying attention, you only notice how many there are) and uses them as garbage bags. Otherwise, there are also compostable garbage bags made of corn starch (https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0050BZRAM/?th=1&psc=1).
Love greetings
Tabea
Hey, the compostable ones are at least not suitable for household/residual waste, i.e. everything that is not composted but picked up, because they are sorted out and burned in the waste incinerators as normal plastic bags 🙂 So you can save the money 🙂
Love greetings
Lara
Hello Lara,
I don't save money, but at least I save more plastic when I use compostable bags.
That's reason enough for me to reach for alternative pouches.
Hi Carola, unfortunately compostable bags are also not compostable in the way it says on the packaging. Also, these bags usually belong in the plastic garbage, as they cause trouble in the utilities. The garbage bag made of newspaper is therefore a good alternative. You can just give it a try 🙂 .
Stay clean,
Christoph
Hey cool, I will use this for my organic waste 😎
Hi Stephan,
exactly, try it out 🙂
Best regards,
Christoph
super idea!!!
Thank you Angelika! Try it with pleasure 🙂
Many greetings,
Christoph
For my organic waste, I simply use a medium-sized metal bowl with a strip of paper at the bottom. I then empty it into the organic waste garbage can as needed. No bags, no other garbage. I just make sure that I put the "drier" waste like avocado peelings, banana peelings, etc. at the bottom before I put the wetter waste on top.
Who disturbs the sight, you can simply put a plate upside down on the bowl. Little flowers on it - already usable as a decorative object 🙂
Hi Claire! Exactly, it can be so simple 🙂 .
Thanks for your tips and have a great Christmas to you and your family!
Many greetings
Christoph
You've probably never had maggots (especially in the summer) in the organic garbage can. That is so disgusting. I also wrap the paper bag when it's full in newspaper again, in the winter so the compost doesn't soak through and freeze and in the summer because of the flies. These paper bags I fold for years but by the size really only for the compost.
lg sonny
Hi Sonny! Ne I had not yet. For that you have to keep the organic waste but also a whole time so together, right? If I bring down the organic waste 1-2 times a week, I have no maggots in it. 🙂
Best regards and happy new year,
Christoph
For the double size simply take 2 x 2 sheets of newsprint, and lay them so that they overlap about 10 cm and fold the bag from them. The two short sides together now make the longer side for folding. This is then enough for a normal kitchen bucket. I have been doing it this way for a long time and it works very well! Many greetings and a good plastic-poor new year! Monika
Hi Monika! Perfect, thanks for your tip and a great plastic free 2019 to you too.
Many greetings
Christoph
A great idea and newspapers are always enough. Do you have possibly also a video in which the folding is explained / shown? I'm even too stupid to fold a well or a boat from newspaper ??
I will try it later right away?
LG Anita
Hi Anita! I give everything that we can show this year also a few video posts, thanks for the tip 🙂
Try it for now still so, good luck 🙂
Many greetings
Christoph
Dear Christoph,
I think Sonny means maggots in the bio garbage can in your comment, not in her kitchen;-)
The organic waste garbage can is only collected every 14 days, at least in our country.
It is helpful to wrap the respective organic waste portions in extra newspaper.
I just had to laugh heartily at your little misunderstanding. Thanks for that!
Hello??♀️, I just discovered you on Pinterest. I use an old soup bowl with a lid for my organic waste without a gap for the ladle in the lid because of the smell. You can get them at the junk store. Decorative it is in any case?. I think the paper garbage bags are great. I will try it out. Many greetings Katja
Hi Katja, oh also cool! Thanks for the tip - maybe some readers here have a discarded soup bowl and can give it a second life 😉.
Many greetings
Christoph
I have been doing this for many years
Hello,
the idea I find so super that I have made myself two and will also use from now on! Thank you for it, because each plastic bag less is worth gold and finally everyone should also start with itself, then it would soon all do!
Hey Erika! Thanks for your feedback and your positive attitude!
Best regards
Christoph
Where do you get newsprint when you only read news online?
Hi Marie! From the neighbor or you just take cardboard and fold it so that it fits in the trash 😉 It go otherwise also magazines and other journals 😉
Best regards
Christoph
Hello
I would like to make bags from newspaper. Unfortunately, these are much too small for the trash can. Is there another suggestion?
Hey Petra. Phew, so either you take a larger newspaper or you just try it without garbage bags at all - depending on what garbage you want to collect in it.
Do others have even better ideas?
Many greetings
Christoph
Yes,I have decided to use the rectangular bags.I make stock when I sit in front of the TV.When the garbage bag is full,I take it away.
I've been doing this for years !!!!
Very good!