Who Gives a Crap makes compostable bags designed to hold food scraps before they go into a compost bin or collection service

Who Gives a Crap is an Australian company known for sustainable toilet paper and paper products. Their compostable food scrap bags are thin, plant-based liners made from materials like corn starch and other renewable sources. You fill them with food waste — vegetable peels, coffee grounds, meat, dairy, oils — and when full, you tie them closed and add the entire bag to a compost bin or drop it off at a municipal compost collection point.

The bags break down in industrial composting facilities, which reach temperatures and conditions that home compost piles typically cannot. This matters because the bags will not fully decompose in a backyard bin. If you have access to a municipal compost program or a commercial facility, these bags work as intended. If you compost only at home, they are not the right choice for your situation.

The main appeal is convenience: you line a small kitchen container, fill it over a few days, and dispose of the whole thing without touching the waste directly. For people who find loose food scraps messy or who want to reduce odor in their kitchen, this is a practical trade-off.

Key Takeaways

  • Who Gives a Crap compostable bags are made from plant-based materials and designed to break down only in industrial composting facilities, not in home compost bins.
  • You use them as liners for a small kitchen container, fill them with food scraps, and either add them to a municipal compost program or drop them at a commercial composting facility.
  • The bags cost more per use than no liner at all, so the value depends on whether you have regular access to industrial composting and whether the convenience matters to you.
  • These bags will not decompose in a landfill or in most home compost setups, so they only work if you have a confirmed composting outlet that accepts them.

What materials are in these bags and how long they last

Who Gives a Crap compostable bags are typically made from polylactic acid (PLA), a plastic-like material derived from corn starch or sugarcane, or from other plant-based polymers. The exact composition varies by product line and region. These materials are certified compostable under standards like ASTM D6400 (United States) or EN 13432 (Europe), which means they will break down into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass within 180 days in an industrial composting facility.

In a home compost bin, these bags usually do not break down within a reasonable timeframe — often taking years or remaining partially intact. This is the critical distinction: compostable does not mean it will decompose in your backyard. Industrial facilities maintain temperatures between 130 and 170 degrees Fahrenheit, constant moisture, and regular turning. Home bins rarely reach those conditions.

The bags themselves are thin and lightweight, typically around 10 to 15 micrometers thick. They hold up to normal handling when wet or when filled with heavier scraps like bones or vegetable matter, but they are not designed to be durable over time — they are meant to be used once and composted.

Where you can actually use these bags

These bags work only if your area has an industrial composting program. Check whether your city or county runs a compost collection service. Many municipalities in the United States, Canada, and Europe now offer curbside compost pickup or drop-off sites. Search "[your city] compost collection" or contact your local solid waste department to confirm whether a program exists and whether it accepts compostable bags.

Some programs accept compostable bags; others do not. A few facilities specifically reject them because they slow down the sorting process or because staff cannot distinguish them from regular plastic. Before you buy the bags, contact the program directly and ask whether they accept certified compostable liners. Get the answer in writing or note the name of the person who confirmed it, because policies change and staff sometimes give conflicting information.

If you have no municipal program nearby, you may have access to a private composting service or a community garden with a compost facility. Some farmers markets and grocery stores also collect compost. The same rule applies: confirm in advance that they accept compostable bags and that they operate year-round, because many seasonal programs close in winter.

Cost and how it compares to other options

Who Gives a Crap compostable bags typically cost between $0.15 and $0.30 per bag, depending on the pack size and where you buy them. A box of 50 bags might cost $8 to $12. If you fill one bag every two to three days, you are spending roughly $20 to $40 per year on liners alone.

Compare this to the alternatives: using no liner and rinsing your container between trips costs nothing but requires more cleaning. Using a newspaper or paper towel liner costs almost nothing. Using a regular plastic bag costs less per unit but creates waste that does not break down in compost and may be rejected by your program. Using a reusable cloth liner costs more upfront but lasts for years.

The value of compostable bags depends on how much you value convenience and hygiene. If you find loose scraps unpleasant or if your kitchen container gets smelly, the bags may be worth the cost. If you are primarily concerned with reducing waste, a reusable liner or no liner at all is more economical.

Potential problems and what to watch for

The most common issue is buying the bags and then discovering your local compost program does not accept them. This leaves you with bags that will not break down at home and no way to dispose of them properly. Always verify acceptance before your first purchase.

A second problem is that compostable bags can slow down industrial composting equipment if they are not separated from other materials before processing. Some facilities have staff remove them by hand; others reject loads that contain them. If your program does not specifically say they accept compostable bags, assume they do not.

Storage is also worth considering. Compostable bags made from PLA can degrade in heat or humidity, so they should be kept in a cool, dry place. If you buy in bulk and store them in a warm garage or humid basement, they may become brittle or sticky before you use them.

Finally, these bags are not suitable for home composting, even though the word "compostable" might suggest otherwise. If you compost at home and have no access to an industrial facility, these bags will create a disposal problem rather than solve one.

How to use them effectively if you have access to composting

Place a bag in a small kitchen container — a bowl, jar, or dedicated compost crock. Add food scraps as you generate them: vegetable trimmings, fruit peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, and similar materials. Some programs accept meat, dairy, and oils; others do not. Check your program's rules before you start, because adding prohibited items can contaminate the entire batch.

When the bag is full or after a few days (whichever comes first), tie it closed. If you are dropping it off at a facility, transport it in a sealed container to prevent odor and spillage. If you have curbside pickup, place the sealed bag in your compost bin on collection day, just as you would with loose scraps.

Do not add the bag to a home compost bin expecting it to break down. Do not put it in a landfill or regular trash. The bag only serves its purpose if it reaches an industrial composting facility.

Alternatives if compostable bags do not fit your situation

If you have no access to industrial composting, compostable bags are not a practical choice. Instead, consider a reusable cloth or stainless steel liner that you rinse between uses. These last for years and eliminate the per-use cost. Newspaper or kraft paper liners are cheap and will break down in a home compost bin. Some people use no liner at all and straightforward rinse their container.

If you want to reduce food waste rather than just contain it, focus on meal planning and storage to prevent spoilage in the first place. This eliminates the need for compost liners altogether. If you have no compost option at all, food waste disposals (where local codes allow them) or municipal trash collection are the realistic alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will these bags break down in my home compost bin?

No. Compostable bags require industrial composting facilities that reach 130 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit to break down within six months. Home compost bins rarely get that hot and may take years to partially decompose them, if at all. Use these bags only if you have access to a municipal or commercial composting program that specifically accepts them.

What happens if I put a compostable bag in the regular trash?

It will sit in a landfill indefinitely without breaking down. Compostable bags are designed for industrial facilities, not for landfills. If your composting program closes or you run out of access, you will need to dispose of unused bags as regular trash, which defeats the purpose of buying them.

Are Who Gives a Crap bags cheaper than other compostable bag brands?

Pricing is similar across most certified compostable bag brands, typically ranging from $0.15 to $0.30 per bag. Who Gives a Crap is competitively priced but not necessarily cheaper. Compare the per-bag cost across brands and check whether your local composting program has a preference or recommendation.

Can I use these bags if I have a worm bin or vermicomposting setup?

No. Worm bins operate at much lower temperatures than industrial composting and the bags will not break down. Worms also cannot digest the bag material. Stick to newspaper, cardboard, or no liner for vermicomposting.

Do I need to remove the bag before adding compost to my garden?

Only if you composted at home. If the bag went to an industrial facility, it will have fully decomposed and there is nothing to remove. If you accidentally added it to a home bin, you will need to fish it out before using the finished compost.