The best bags for composting toilets

Dry composting toilets are environmentally friendly, sustainable, odorless and hygienic. They also allow you to dispose of your own waste just about anywhere.

Disposing of large stores is especially easy if you line your solids bucket with a bag. This catches what's left over from the day - along with litter and toilet paper. When the bag is full, you tie it shut and dispose of it in the residual waste. But which bag is the right one for you and your composting toilet?

Which bags are suitable for composting toilets?

In this article, we take a closer look at different bags for composting toilets. We explain the advantages and disadvantages of the bags and answer the most frequently asked questions about the choice of bag. What you should generally know before buying a composting toilet, you will learn in our great guide to buying composting toilets.

Recycled bags for composting toilets

Recycled garbage bags with the Blue Angel label consist of at least 80% recycled plastics, such as polyethylene (PE). For the production of these bags, already existing resources are used, and no new plastics are produced. Compared with a conventional trash bag, these bags can save around half the CO₂ emissions.

 Advantages

• More sustainable than conventional garbage bags
• Tear resistant
• Impervious to moisture

 Disadvantages

• More expensive than standard bags
• Not available everywhere

Biodegradable bags for composting toilets

Biodegradable bags are often made of materials such as corn starch, potato starch or PLA (polylactide). Under suitable conditions, they decompose. Microorganisms or enzymes are responsible for the decomposition. If the bags are labeled "bioplastic made from renewable raw materials," they are more sustainable because they do not contain degradable, petroleum-based plastics.

Advantages

• More sustainable than conventional garbage bags
• Biodegradable under suitable conditions

Disadvantages

• Less tear resistant
• More expensive than standard bags
• Not available everywhere
• May contain harmful chemicals released in the decomposition process
• Growing renewable resources is not inherently sustainable

Compostable bags

Compostable bags for composting toilets also belong to the biodegradable waste bags. However, the decomposition time is significantly shorter. In addition, no harmful residues may be produced during decomposition. At 60°C, this process takes up to three months in composting plants.
Advantages

• More sustainable than conventional garbage bags
• Biodegradable under suitable conditions

Disadvantages

• Tend to partially decompose in warm temperatures, resulting in leaks
• Less tear resistant
• More expensive than standard bags
• Not available everywhere
• Cultivation of renewable raw materials is not fundamentally sustainable

Standard bag

Conventional garbage bags are intended for general household waste. They are made from petroleum and thus have the worst eco-balance. From a functional point of view, they can be used as bags for the composting toilet, but they do not correspond to the sustainable character of the quiet lavatory.
Advantages

• Inexpensive
• Limited tear resistance (depending on material thickness)
• Impervious to moisture

Disadvantages

• Not environmentally friendly
• Not sustainable

Which bag is particularly suitable for whom?

The choice of bag for the composting toilet depends on your individual needs and priorities.

1. Environmentally conscious: if you want to consciously conserve resources and buy sustainably, recycled bags are the best choice for you and your composting toilet. For the production of the bags, already existing materials are recycled and thus no new plastics are produced.
2. Price sensitive: standard waste bags are generally less expensive than biodegradable or recycled bags.
3. Safety-conscious: if you want to be able to fully rely on your bag, it is worthwhile to reach for the recycled bag. These bags are particularly robust and tear-resistant. Standard bags can meet these requirements if they have an appropriate material thickness.

Regardless of your choice, it is important to dispose of the bags properly. The bag for the poop belongs in the residual waste. Not in the organic waste garbage can, not in the toilet and certainly not buried in nature!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Bag Selection for composting Toilets and Disposal

Can I use normal plastic bags in my composting toilet?
Yes, this is possible, but it does not follow the sustainable principle of the composting toilet.
 
Can I use compostable bags in my garden compost?
No, you can't. Compostable bags decompose only at a temperature of 60°C or higher. The rotting of your compost, however, only reaches temperatures of approx. 30°C. The bag will therefore not decompose completely there.
 
Can I bury compostable bags in the ground?
Absolutely not! Again, the bag will not decompose due to insufficient temperatures.
 
How do I dispose of the bag?
Tie the bag tightly and dispose of it like a dog waste bag in the residual waste. Please do not put it in the organic waste!
 
Can recycled bags be an environmentally friendly choice?
Recycled bags are much more environmentally friendly than traditional plastic bags because they are made from recycled materials. However, their environmental friendliness is still limited. After all, they are still made of plastic.
 
Which bags are water-resistant and leakproof?
Most bags made from recycled plastic are sturdy, water-resistant and help prevent unpleasant spill mishaps. This makes them well-suited for keeping moisture safely contained. The same goes for standard trash bags made of tear-resistant material.
 
Can I dispose of the contents of the bag in the toilet?
No. The mixture of collected droppings, paper and litter will clog the toilet.  
 
Which bags are cost-effective?
Standard litter bags are generally less expensive than biodegradable or recycled alternatives. However, saving money in this case unfortunately pollutes the environment.
 
Which bags does Trelino® offer?
Sustainability is close to our heart. That's why you'll find only recycled or compostable bags for composting toilets in our store.

Conclusion

No matter which type of bag you choose, they are all made of plastics that do not decompose, do not decompose completely, or only decompose under suitable conditions. Unfortunately, there is no 100% sustainable or environmentally friendly solution (yet). 
If you use your composting toilet in the garden or in the Tiny House and have a compost heap, it is possible to compost your waste. Since you don't use a bag at all in that case, this is the most sustainable solution for disposing of large stores. To learn how composting can succeed, read our article on composting human feces.