Garbage bags and other plastic bags are still a huge problem for our environment. That's why today I'm going to show you one way you can fold plastic free garbage bags can. I'm going to give you a simple folding tutorial that will allow you to turn an old newspaper into a garbage bag. You don't need glue either. An old newspaper is the only thing you need to fold trash bags out of newsprint. Let's go!
Why fold plastic-free garbage bags?
One trillion plastic bags. That's the estimated number of plastic bags used worldwide each year. 90% of them end up in landfills. The average European citizen uses about 500 plastic bags. If you count only the garbage bags, you get about 176. In Germany, 10,000 plastic bags are consumed every minute.₁ As you can see, it is urgently time for something to change. The Zero Waste Lifestyle is already more than just a trend. And this DIY tutorial for your garbage bags from newspaper are an important part of it.
Folding garbage bags from newspaper - how to do it
1) First unfold two layers of newspaper.
2) Fold the short side of the newsprint inward enough to make a square. Then fold the upper left edge to the opposite side.
3) You can cut off the excess newspaper with scissors. When you bend the square, you should now have a triangle.
4) Fold a point onto the opposite side of the newsprint.
5) Take two layers of the paper and fold it upwards. Put the tips in 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 the ends of the bottom of the bag, so that the bag can stand well. Done!
Folding garbage bags from newspaper is easy!
As you could see, it's quite easy to fold garbage bags from newspaper. By the way, the DIY garbage bags can also be used for the Compost be used. Newspaper inks are now free of heavy metals and water-insoluble₂ (except for magazines). If you are already folding plastic-free garbage bags, you can also use them for other things. For example, to carry nuts, fruits, vegetables or other food in the supermarket. You can also use newsprint use for wrapping gifts.
Have you ever folded your trash bag from newspaper or do you have questions and suggestions for the DIY tutorial? Then write me a comment.
Best regards and have fun trying it out,
PS: Do you want to learn even 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
I've been doing this for years !!!!
Very good!
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.
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
Where do you get newsprint when you only read news online?
Hi Marie! From the neighbor or just take cardboard and fold it so that it fits in the trash can 😉 Magazines and other magazines also work 😉
Best regards
Christoph
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
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 cool too! 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
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!
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'll do my best to show some videos this year, thanks for the hint 🙂
Try it like this for now, good luck 🙂
Many greetings
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
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.
If you don't like the look, you can simply place a plate upside down on the bowl. Flowers on it - already usable as a decorative object 🙂
Hi Claire! Exactly, it can be so easy 🙂
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! No, I haven't had that yet. But you have to keep the organic waste together like that for quite a while, don't you? If I take the organic waste down 1-2 times a week, I don't have any maggots in it 🙂
Best regards and happy new year,
Christoph
super idea!!!
Thank you Angelika! Give it a try 🙂
Many greetings,
Christoph
Hey cool, I'll use that for my organic waste 😎
Hi Stephan,
Exactly, try it out! 🙂
Best regards,
Christoph
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 form that it says on the packaging. These bags also normally belong in the plastic waste, as they cause problems in the supply systems. The newspaper bin liner is therefore a good alternative. You can just give it a try 🙂
Stay clean,
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,
Thank you for your comment 🙂 The bin liners are actually relatively small. The advantage of them is that you can easily compost them. If you're looking for a larger alternative, there are also a few options. For example, some people use the packaging from toilet paper (if you buy the normal one from the supermarket). A friend of mine always collects clean plastic bags lying around on the sidewalk on her way home (when you start paying attention, you realize how many there are) and uses them as garbage bags. There are also compostable garbage bags made from 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 collected, because they are sorted out and incinerated in the waste incineration plants as normal plastic bags 🙂 So you can save yourself the money 🙂
Love greetings
Lara
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, thank you for your comment! 🙂 If you flatten the bottom (what you call the edge) a little from the inside, the bag will stand up better. You can 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 doesn't stand up, you can try adding another layer of newspaper to make the bag thicker overall. This will also ensure that the corners don't slip out of the "bag". Alternatively, you can leave the cut edge on the newspaper from the front and simply click it around so that the newspaper is a square from the start. 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
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