Could you put it in a brown paper bag?

We use the compostable bags in a small covered metal container so that we can keep them for a few days rather than a new bag every day.. I'm not convinced it's much better than plastic, but maybe a bit better?

While we have the no-one-use-plastic-bag prohibition from retailers, that doesn't extend to a prohibition against putting plastic bags into the garbage.

I’ve been using these for the past few months and they’re terrific!

Earth Rated 225-Count Extra-Large Dog Waste Bags, Poop Bags for Large Dog Breeds and Cat Litter

Sammy, I don't think those bags are biodegradable if that's why you're buying them.

I thought the bags I bought were biodegradable, however I just read more closely and it seems they are not. (Earth Rated brand does offer a compostable version, so I’ll order those next go ‘round.)

At least the box they come in is made of recycled materials so I feel a little better... :/

Sammy, I don't think those bags are biodegradable if that's why you're buying them.

Yep—You’re right, CindyMac. (Looks like we posted at the same time.)

What a bummer!

Good question, wanttoretire. We use brown paper bags, lunch style, when scooping the litter box. My friend uses a plastic bag to line the litter box. I wouldn’t do that.

We have had the bag ban for several years. I buy the standard plastic t-bags on Amazon. It's around 20.00 for case of 1000.

They are now selling thicker plastic bags at checkout. Those are thicker but not pliable enough for all the many reuses of the standard ones.

Lunch sacks. Cheap and they break down. Although i don’t think anything breaks down very quickly in the middle of a landfill.

Thank you all. Not the crisis DH was thinking of.

What do you mean by plastic bag prohibition? Grocery store bags, all trash bags, what?

Our newspapers are tossed in the drive covered in a plastic bag which is perfect for litter. Easy to knot.

We have two litter boxes, one outside on the deck for daytime and one in the basement for nighttime. When I clean them out I use our regular plastic garbage bags. I can;t imagine with the weight of a whole litter box of kitty litter putting it into a paper bag. Kitty litter can't be put into the compostable garbage cans but rather it has to go into the regular garbage cans. If someone as an alternative I'm listening.

The bags also have to be wide enough at the mouth to go over the ends of the litter box so that you don't wind up with kitty litter all over the floor. This job is messy enough and is on my to-do list for today.

(this is for the cleaning of the entire box, not just kitty-poo)

The city gave us composting bins that they pick up every Thursday. We put the litter in it along with any food, used paper towels, dryer lint. The city composts it all and we can take that compost for our gardens in the Spring for free. Well, it's not really free: we have to pay for the to pick up our bins...……….

That’s a really cool service Debby. I wish they had that here, I wouldn’t mind paying more for pick up if they did.

We have that service as well. It is commonly termed 'yard waste' here but can include any compostable food product or paper. But it does NOT include pet waste!! That has to be included with regular garbage and bagging - plastic bagging - is the recommended way of handling it:

1. Place pet waste and litter into a plastic bag (double-bagging is best), and put it in your garbage can. Cat litter requires proper disposal, too. Bag it in a plastic bag (double-bagging is best) and put it in your garbage can. Never flush it down the toilet—regardless of whether you are on a sewer or a septic system.)
2. Bury it—as long as it is in small amounts, and you scatter the sites in your yard. Don’t bury near play areas, your drinking water well, septic system drain field, or other places where you might contact it, such as garden areas.
3. You can flush pet feces down your toilet only if you are served by a sewer treatment plant, and your sewer utility allows it. NEVER flush pet feces in your toilet if you are on a septic system.
4. NEVER put pet feces in a storm sewer.

I scoop my cat's litter into an empty litter container with a lid. I just add to it each day and then the whole thing gets dumped into our trash cart outside the night before pick up.

Debby I'm surprised they let you put cat litter in the compost! Never heard of that before.

I agree - I'd pay to have compost bins that were picked up weekly. Great service!

I'd also like to know what the plastic bag ban in your area is going to entail? We went though one a couple of years ago and I can't see that it changed much of anything for the better. Our ban only banned certain stores from providing bags, and those now sell the thicker bags, like watchmelol referenced. I use far more plastic bags now, I just buy them in bulk in the bag isle at the store. They are thinner than the old grocery bags, so usually need two to make sure they don't burst :(

Cat litter and bird paper go out in a single 4 gallon plastic bag, but if the box alone needs to be scooped, we use the small poop pick up bags we buy at dollar tree or recycle an old gallon bag, or produce bag.

http://www.catgenie.com

I can’t specify which bags. My query was only because a law was introduced in a county south of us. It isn’t even enacted yet. I was just curious as DH wants to start hoarding grocery bags ‘just in case’............

See if this posts. Some areas that I know of it is a range of what happens. Some ban only shopping bags of certain types. Other areas ban the bags but then if you must have one the merchant is supposed to charge you for them. Largest charge I have seen was ten cents a bag. One area still has the law but looks the other way because many of the merchants deal in things that could leak.

One thing I have found ironic is that the totes made of recycled plastic can not be recycled. Those that I have tend to split along the bottom seam in about a year.

Debby, you should double check with your city. Pretty sure cat litter should not be included with compostables.

There are some cat litters that are compostable. I use a type of woodchips that would be but most is not. The clay ones can cause problems. I do agree that people should check.

I also use the plastic dog poo pick up bags. I scoop out the litter box all day or at least whenever I see the box upstairs or the four in the cellar have been used. And I also thought about using the brown paper lunch bags. Not sure how much they cost and how many you get in a pack, but I just remembered I do have some in the cupboard. I'll check. I do go through quite a few of the plastic bags.

I purchase these mainly because they're strong and affordable. They also come with twist ties. There are several brands but I buy my local store's brand. Most grocery stores carry them, as does Target, Walmart, etc.

You can buy the bathroom trash can liner bags for cheap.

Yeah, I buy the small trash can liners from Dollar General at $1 a pack. You get quite a few in a pack. I use those to line the trash can in the cellar. In that, I put empty cat food cans.