If you’re looking to choose the right type of trash bags, there are no coverall solutions. The bag that works for one area may not be suitable for another. This is especially an especially important cost consideration for businesses.
Whether it’s an office space, restaurant, or hotel, trash bags will always be necessary to keep the area clean and hygienic. Within the space, you may have a kitchen, bathroom, office, warehouse or receiving area, and more.
To maximize cost savings, each area or application should have its specific type of trash bag. The bag used should be based on the application. Why? The most compelling reason is the potential to save money.
If you’re using a bag that is more expensive when a thinner bag made from a less expensive resin would do, you’re throwing your profits out with the trash. Fortunately, you don’t have to understand the nuances associated with trash bags, can liners, and resins.
The team at AAA Polymer can help. We can conduct a free can liner audit to help you understand the potential cost savings. Simply reach out to us today for a free can liner audit. In the meantime, let’s take a closer look at the main considerations.
The Type of Trash Bag Resin Matters
All can liners are made from resin, which determines the attributes and qualities of the trash bags. As you can imagine, some resins may be more expensive than others, so it’s important to get this right. The two common types of resins are:
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Low-Density (LD) and Linear Low-Density Bags (LLD)
- )High-Density Bag (HD)
Low Density and Linear Low-Density Bags
A linear low-density trash bag is recommended for rough items under tough transport circumstances or items that may puncture the bag such as:
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Chips, trimmings, and stalks
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Bottles
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Very sharp-edged metal
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Boxes and other items with sturdy corners
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Construction Materials
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Disposable Eating Utensils
These bags may also be suitable for broken glass because the resin is strong enough to withstand small shards of glass without breaking open.
Some business situations you might need to use LLD bags are construction sites, kitchens, landscaping, and hospitals. If you need a durable bag to collect heavy objects, this is the type of trash bag you would want.
High-Density Bags
For paper and non-rough objects under moderate transportation conditions, a high-density bag is ideal. Though these liners are very strong and capable of holding more weight than LLD liners, they are prone to tears once punctured. Items suited to be placed in an HD bag include:
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Cans
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Waste Paper
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Paper Plates & Cups
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Dirt & Grass
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Rags
These bags are probably most commonly seen in offices where they are used for collecting recyclable paper and general office waste.
Consider the Thickness of the Bag
Another factor in choosing the right bag is the gauge or thickness of the plastic. The gauge refers to how heavy the material is when it comes out of its machine during production. The thicker your trash bag, the more expensive they are but also stronger and longer-lasting.
LLD bags come in thicknesses of 0.3 mils to 3.0 mil. When choosing the thickness of an LLD bag, keep in mind that the thicker the more puncture-resistant the bag will be. LLD gauges are sorted into several different categories.
For an HD type of trash bag, there are also many thicknesses to choose from. These bags can hold a tremendous amount of weight as long as there are no sharp objects inside the bag.
Choosing the correct bag gauge is all about understanding the demands of the job. For heavy items with sharp edges, you are going to want a bag that can withstand those conditions. If it’s something lighter, then your choice might be based on weight capacity alone.
The Seal of the Bag Is Important
The next factor in choosing a type of trash bag is the seal type. There are several different types of seals that you can choose from depending on your needs, however, there are three main categories:
Star Seal
The star seal, which is the most prevalent seal on the market, has no gussets and reduces gaps along with the seal where leaks might develop. This helps to improve the bag conforming to the container’s contour and distributes weight equally throughout the interior of the bag. This type of seal eliminates nearly all leaks because of the design.
Flat Seal
A flat seal is a two-dimensional bag with a bottom seal that resembles a pillowcase and is generally leakproof. Flat seals do not conform well to the shape of most trash receptacles. However, bags with these types of seals are preferred for heavy-duty trash. This is because flat seal bags can stand up on their own and hold their shape.
For your commercial space, it is important to choose a seal type that can handle the weight of objects while still being leakproof and durable enough to last throughout their lifetime. When choosing from these three different types of seals keep in mind what you will be putting inside them and how.
Need Help Choosing Different Types of Trash Bags? Contact Hanpak
At Hanpak JSC, we specialize in helping business owners choose the right type of trash bag for each application.
Contact us today for a free trash bag analysis. Or you can visit our online shop here.