Trash Bag Buying Guide

Three Steps to Choosing the Right Trash Bag

1) Determine the proper bag type for your application

There are two types of resins commonly used in the manufacture of trash bags: Linear Low and High Density. To decide which one you need, answer this question: “Are sharp objects being thrown away?"

A) If Yes, you need Linear Low Density Bags, which are more puncture & tear resistant

B) If No, you need High Density Bags

2) What size container does the trash bag need to fit?

Ideally you should have about three to four inches of overhang on the trash can. Anything more or less is wasteful. The following are some guidelines to use when selecting the right size trash bag.

A) Use the product specification chart to determine the correct size

B) The gallon capacity or the size is usually printed on the trash can

3) What thickness bag do you need for your application?

The term "gauge" is used to describe the thickness of a bag. Linear Low bags are measured in mils, while High Density bags are measured in microns. The more weight the bag needs to bear, the higher the gauge will need to be.

A) High Density bags usually range from 6 to 24 micron in thickness

B) Linear Low Density bags range from .35 to 2.0 mil in thickness

Measuring for Correct Can Liner Size:

BAG WIDTH:
Use 1/2 of the outer circumference of the container. This would apply to either a circular or a square container. The circumference of a circle can be measured using a piece of string or a flexible tape measure, beginning from one point and rounding the perimeter of the circle back to that point. A square is more easily measured: just add the length of all four sides to equal the circumference.

BAG LENGTH:
Use the height of the container, plus 1/2 of the diameter of the container bottom, plus 3 inches for overhang. For square or rectangular containers, use the diagonal of the container bottom rather than the diameter.