Garbage Bag – Can Liner Keys

1. Select the smallest thinnest bag that does not significantly fail to carry the trash to the collection container
1. Remember you are buying a block of plastic that happens to be blown into bags.  The weight of the case is the most important indication of what you are buying
2. Manufacturers cheat the spec and the case does not always contain what the label says.  The weight never lies.
2. Most people use too big and too thick a liner
1. Most common liner is a 38×58 liner that only fits a empty steel drum.  Have you seen any 5ft tall garbage cans?
2. If you gather the top of the bag and pull it will have it’s maximum strength.  A 1 mil bag will pull more than 75lbs of trash.  How many of you can pull that weight up with your arms over your head?
3. What type of trash
1. Sharp objects – must use LLDPE
2. General trash use HDPE – less plastic for the same pull strength
4. How do you want them packed
1. Flat bulk pack – if case is damaged they can get wasted
2. Coreless rolls – 10-25 in a nice compact roll for easy dispensing and use

                                                               i.      Drop one in the bottom of the can for easy replacement

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Bag or Liner Size Formula

If you don’t have a flexible tape to measure around the drum/box or given the information in an email, how do you calculate the circumference?

Circumference = Pi (3.14) times Diameter (C=pD)

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Helpful Formulas & Information

Mils vs. Microns

• Mil – A unit of measurement in thousandths of an inch. (i.e., .001 = one thousandth of an inch or 1.0 mil). Generally used to designate the thickness of LLDPE products.
• Mic – Short for micron, one thousandth of a millimeter. Generally used to designate the thickness of HDPE products.

For the EXACT conversion:

• Mils to Microns: (Number of Mils) x 25.4 (i.e., .75 mil = 19 microns).
• Microns to Mils: (Number of Microns) / 25.4 (i.e., 14 microns = .55 mil).

For the APPROXIMATE strength equivalents:

Formula for determining proper bag size:

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LOW DENSITY LINER

Low Density liners are the ideal choice for applications which require significant material flexibility, in addition to strength and durability. Berry’s low density liners have the ability to elongate under stress, allowing them to maintain without puncturing, tearing, or cracking. Combined with outstanding resistance to low temperatures and ultraviolet exposure, these liners are ideal for many applications Puncture Resistance – High puncture strength 

• Flexibility – In addition to UV and chemical resistance, Low Density Liners exhibit a high degree of flexibility. Greater flexibility provides increased conformance to subsidence and settlement.
• Low Density liners are lower cost and suited for applications where trash is high bulk and low weight.
• A good rule of thumb it’s a back building liner, holding metal, wood, nails, cans anything that’s sharp that could puncture a bag.

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HIGH DENSITY LINER

From small office wastebaskets to large outdoor trash bins, high-density bags have the strength and capacity to accommodate trash containers of all sizes in establishments.

• High-Density Liners are up to three times stronger, and weigh half as much as low density liners.  Substantial material savings on a per liner basis.
• Are an excellent economical choice for heavy, wet trash and soft refuse, not suitable for trash with sharp edges or sharp points
• Offer superior vapor and moisture protection.
• Have smaller, lighter cases, which lower freight costs, storage and warehouse costs
• High Density Liners  (grocery bag material) punctures, with a zipper quick reaction
• Are more temperature resistant than low density liners
• High Density liners, a good rule of thumb it’s a front building liner (holding smooth and heavy material)
• Greener choice as they hold more trash per pound which requires less plastic waste

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Type of Trash

1. Trash with sharp objects require low density liners
2. Wet trash requires thicker liners to hold the liquid but not liners will hold liquid for long periods
3. General office trash is best contained with high density liners

Trash container

1. Formula for sizing W+L + 2-3 inches by Depth plus 4 inches.  For circular containers use have the circumference

Type of bag High Density or Low Density

1. Low density bags stretch more than high density
   1. bags that use recycled fibers are more brittle
   2. Measure of thickness is generally mil
2. High density bags have higher tensile strength but they are more brittle and can zipper when punctured
   1. Measure of thickness is generally micron

$ per pound

1. This is the key measurement of value.  You are essentially buy a block of plastic that has been blown into a bag shape

Bottom, top configuration and seams

1. Flat bottoms have one seem and this tends to be the weakest part of the bag
2. Star seals are best with no direct seam on the bottom of the bag. 
3. Bags can have plain tops or draw tapes or handles for tieing

Pack – flat, coreless rolls, convenience

1. Flat or bulk packaging has the bags loaded in the box folded or in randomn order
2. Coreless rolls have the bags rolled flat in bundles of 25 or so bags.  They can be perforated where the next bags has to be torn off or interwoven for easy removal
3. Convenience packaging has all the bags on a single roll in the box.  They have a dispenser box option where liners can be taken off the roll one at a time.

Manufacturing Process

Resin is melted and blown into a long tube – color may be added. The tube is cut to length and the ends is gathered and sealed. Bags are cooled and packed.

Sizes     Mics  Mils

24×25              6                      .3
24×33              8                      .5
30×36              10                    .6
33×39              12                    .9 or 1
40×48              14                    1.3 or 1.5
38×58              16                    1.7 or 2.0        
43×47              22                    3.0

Mils to Mic Conversion

WxLxMil/15=LBS per 1000
MIL=MIC/25.4
MIC=MILX25.4

Competitive Information to acquire when cross referencing or specifying a bag.

Size
Thickness – Equivalent means nothing
Case Weight
Pack
Count
Color
Manufacturer
Mfg Code

Manufacturers

Berry
Heritage
Pitt Plastics
Inteplast
Rollpak
Repulic
Fortune

High Density            Low Density

Tensile Strength                                                          More Elastic
More Leak Proof                                                         Holes won’t make bag fail
Zippers – good for paper waste                            Good with sharp trash, glass etc
Lower cost per bag                                                     
Fastest growing

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