Choosing the Right Bin Liners to Use With Your Skip: Considering Material, Thickness and Seals

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If you're hiring a bin for a special project or a big event, you likely also need to choose bin bags. Want to ensure you pick the right bag for the job? Here are some tips and ideas to keep in mind:

Material

Most contemporary rubbish bags are made of some type of polyethylene. Avoid low density polyethylene (LDP) as it's thin and tends to rip. Instead opt for linear low density (LLDPE) or high density polyethylene (HDPE). The first is better suited to withstanding rips, making it ideal for construction sites or landscaping projects. High density polyethylene (HDPE), in contrast, doesn't do well with sharp objects, but it's strong enough to hold waste from an outdoor event or a large party.

Thickness

In the realm of thickness, you are likely to find two different measurements: microns and mils. Micron is simply short for micrometre, and it measures one thousandth of a millimetre. A mil is one-thousandth of an inch. In most cases, you want the thickest bag possible, and to compare two sets of rubbish bags that are measured in different units, simply divide the number of microns by 25.4 to find the number of mils.

Alternatively, multiple mils by 25.4 to convert to microns. If you are collecting relatively lightweight waste, such as leaves or grass clippings, you may be able to save a bit of cash by selecting a slightly thinner bag.

Seals

The way the rubbish bag is held together at its base is called a seal, and the seal affects the bags' cost as well as its functioning. The simplest seal is a flat seal -- imagine the end of a pillowcase that is sewn together flat. As this is the simplest seal, it also tends to be on the least expensive bags; however, it doesn't conform well to bins, making it best for simple projects especially where you plan to hold the bag rather than popping it in a bin.

Two other popular options include gusset seals and star seals. Gusset seals have pleats or gussets that allow the bin liner to fit in a bin without leaving lots of empty spaces. Star seals are gathered up in a single "star" shaped seal at the base of the bag, and the biggest and perhaps only advantage of a star seal over a gusset is that it works better for holding liquids.

Want more guidance on choosing bin liners to use with the skip you are hiring? Contact a skip bin hire company. As professionals in the rubbish business, they can point you in the right direction.  


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