Ditch the plastic compost bin liner and use newspaper instead.
A strong paper bin liner made with discarded newspapers and flyers holds your kitchen and compostable waste without making your bin messy. Even better, no more unnecessary plastic lining your bin and going into landfills and it’s a good way to save money too.
And, when you toss your bag into the compost heap, it will break down in 2-6 days depending on how much moisture it gets. (Newspapers are commonly made up of recycled content already.) Here’s how to make a DIY newspaper bin liner.
Step 1
To form into a “bag,” fold the paper into a triangle with the centre point facing away from you.
Step 2
Next, fold each side of the triangle towards the middle so it reaches the edge on the other side and press down on each crease (your paper should look like a pouch with a flat base).
Step 3
Next, find the centre and fold the top corners down and out on each side.
Step 4
Finally, open the pouch and use your bag to line your bin.
Learn more about starting your own compost here.
Jennifer Reynolds, our previous Editor-in-Chief, is a long-time authority in gardening, do-it-yourself projects, urban sustainability, parenting, placemaking and community matters. Her features and columns have been published in Canadian Living, Canadian Family, Gardening Life, House & Home, Globe & Mail, National Post, Toronto Star & more. Plus, her designs and expertise have been featured on dozens of HGTV, W Network and CTV shows.
