Do BIFL Leaf bags exist?

Submitted by perkinsjt t3_ytiacn in BuyItForLife

My county recycling center used to have a program where residents could pick up paper leaf bags, but they've discontinued it and even though it's not a lot, I hate the thought of giving HD/Lowes money to literally throw away. Any leaf bag/container recommendations that make financial sense vs paper bags?

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LeapingTapir t1_iw4b4f0 wrote

Can you leave the leaves alone or just mulch them? It's a good fertilizer for your lawn and provides a place for pollinators to hibernate over the winter.

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perkinsjt OP t1_iw4fhuk wrote

i mulch as many as i can, but there are simply too many

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waehrik t1_iw4dp27 wrote

Mulch them into your lawn. Not only does it eliminate the bag and fuel from transportation of your leaves but it's an effective fertilizer so you don't have to dump nitrogen into the soil

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perkinsjt OP t1_iw4fgdr wrote

i'm aware of the benefits of mulching, but there are too many

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electric_shocks t1_iw4ci5c wrote

If I were you, I'd make one out of tyvek.

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phrendo t1_iw49duc wrote

Do they allow you to put a green leaf sticker on your garbage can? They do that near me

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dagnombe t1_iw4gozh wrote

I use these giant industrial bags. I've seen them with different names. Super Sack, Bulk Bags, Forklift/Hoist Bags, etc. Something like the one below. You can sometimes find them for dirt cheap or even free. I get them from a metal fabricating place for a couple bucks each. They have tons of uses and are very tough.

https://www.amazon.com/DURASACK-Heavy-Duty-Builders-Polypropylene/dp/B095WSB1WR/ref=sr_1_7?crid=1NMUT9HK029ZU&keywords=hoist+bag&qid=1668290181&sprefix=hoist+bag%2Caps%2C174&sr=8-7

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perkinsjt OP t1_iw4i3bm wrote

nice. and your yard waste people don't give you a hard time about how big these are?

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dagnombe t1_iw4iljx wrote

I should have pointed out I don't put the yard waste out for collection in these. Just transporting to my yard bins or emptying at the dump.

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perkinsjt OP t1_iwa1byd wrote

Roger. Picked up a 100gal from Amazon. I'll find out next week if they take it. Thanks!

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IBeTanken t1_iw5bm8y wrote

Burlap sacks? They wont last forever, but are okay.

Also check out "super sacks". https://www.amazon.com/Super-Sack/s?k=Super+Sack

Used gaylords also work if you have a way to transport or lift them.

​

I use my stihl SH86 to mulch what I have left and then put it in bags.

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perkinsjt OP t1_iwa16ks wrote

Picked up a similar 100gal sack from Amazon. Looks like it'll last a lot longer than the ones at Lowes/HD and I'll need way less of them. FIngers crossed the yard waste pickup dudes don't have an issue with it. Thanks!

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j-random t1_iw8jrdw wrote

Get some large appliance boxes and put the leaves in those. They're still compostable, and should be free from any store that sells refrigerators or dishwashers.

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planttoddler t1_iw4f3qn wrote

Our family uses rice sacks/ bags for leaves and weeds whenever we empty one.

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trifelin t1_iw4lfug wrote

Are there any composting groups or facilities in your community? In mine we just use large reusable bins for compost and the city picks them up, but there are other groups that collect compost material for farming businesses and they take your waste away for free.

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CollinUrshit t1_iw7hsrg wrote

A large tarp, quality and size to fit your purpose. Rake all the leaves on to it then bundle them up. You could run rope or cable through the eyes to tie it shut.

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Muncie4 t1_iw82g7y wrote

You are asking the wrong question in the wrong subreddit.

You are not asking about a BIFL option, you are asking about the cheapest option and that's not what this sub is.

And we have no idea what your area's requirements are, so we can't help. In my area, it MUST be a see through plastic bag.

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perkinsjt OP t1_iw8juf5 wrote

Please enlighten me which subreddit "do BIFL blanks exist?" should go in. The vast majority of posts in this subreddit are not actually BIFL, either, they just have longer than average lifespans.

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Muncie4 t1_iw9uauw wrote

Read Rule 1 here. Life is NOT literal here. And your question has nothing to do with lifespan, it has to do with cost. This is not a cost subreddit.

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perkinsjt OP t1_iwa0qm6 wrote

I think most would agree that my question is pretty plainly stated and that a thing can actually be 2 things: BIFL and long term cost effective (or maybe it can't - please refer to the question mark in the topic).

I am open to any discussion that fits either one of those things, which several people have been able to provide opinions on. What I am not here for is unhelpful semantic arguments, so maybe just keep scrolling?

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Muncie4 t1_iwa6apq wrote

Or maybe...just maybe....realize that you posted in the wrong spot instead of doubling down? You are asking, "financial sense vs paper bags". Part one is a financial question. This is not a financial sub. Part two is even odder....you are asking for a BIFL option to a paper bag I think...like are you wanting to store your leaves in a BIFL container at the dump like some sort of time capsule or what?

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perkinsjt OP t1_iwamcu5 wrote

I'm sorry that you're so upset by my post.

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Muncie4 t1_iwbend1 wrote

I'm sorry you can't admit you are wrong. That shows growth on your part.

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tomcatx2 t1_iwgbky9 wrote

Burlap coffee bags. There is a local commercial roaster that gives their bags away. We used them as ground cover in our community garden plot. Takes about 2-3 seasons for them to completely biodegrade.
I would also glean green coffee beans tucked in a corner of the bags. A coffee bag run would usually get me a couple of pounds of beans to roast later.

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