Perf Go Green Recycled Plastic Bags

The annoying thing about repetition is that it can make even the most sensible advice seem trite.

Such is the sad fate of the environmentalist creed: "Take only photographs; leave only footprints."

It's pretty much impossible to live by that saying, but it's a good aspiration. It's certainly much better than the current human reality of take lots of natural resources, leave 500 billion plastic bags lying around (according to AlterNet).

That's why 1GreenProduct.com will try to identify and share alternatives to traditional bags that may take centuries to decompose.

A few weeks ago, we brought you a review of biodegradable, compostable BioBags.

Today we present Perf Go Green biodegradable plastic bags.

Available in 13-gallon and 30-gallon sizes (as well as drop cloth, kitty litter and doggie duty versions), Perf Go Green claims several shades of greenness:

- First, the bags themselves are apparently made from recycled plastic. That's great since every product that incorporates recycled plastic helps keep plastics out of landfills and creates a market that encourages more recycling.

- Second, Perf Go Green claims that its bags totally biodegrade within 2 years in a landfill environment. Apparently when the bags are exposed to oxygen, moisture and microrganisms, they decompose into simple natural materials. (The bags were apparently tested according to this standard.)

- Third, the Perf Go Green bags supposedly leave zero toxins behind after they biodegrade. A Perf Go Green representative says the bags break down into carbon dioxide, water and biomass.

FYI, Perf Go Green bags come in a box made of 100% recycled paperboard. The box works like a tissue dispenser. The adhesive strip on the bottom of the box secures the dispenser to the inside of your trash can. I suppose that could save some valuable kitchen shelf space...

We weren't able to sit in a landfill for two years and wait to see if the bags really decompose. But we can vouch first-hand for the strength of Perf Go Green. We used a highly unscientific 'pull test' and discovered that these bags seem capable of hauling some serious trash. Hopefully they'll be just as good at having a breakdown a couple years later.

Where to buy:

Both the 13-gallon (MSRP $4.80) and 30-gallon ($7.35 MSRP) Perf Go Green bags contain a dozen bags per box. Buy them online at Amazon.com or Drugstore.com.