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Yesterday I had to empty the garbage bin which contained a heavy plastic bag. The bag turned out to be too heavy and it ripped at some point. I decided I had to get some stuff out and put that in a new plastic bag, which was quite gross and took more time than I wanted to.

I was hoping there would be a more efficient way. I live on the first floor of an apartment so lifting the bin and turning it upside down in a garbage can is not an option.

I want a solution for when this problem reoccurs.

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    Not really a hack, but check the bag from time to time and remove it befor it is to heavy. Easy as that :)
    – Julian
    May 4, 2015 at 14:19
  • Can you reach under the bag? If so I've got an idea.
    – Mast
    May 4, 2015 at 17:12
  • Buy better bags? How about double bagging? May 4, 2015 at 22:06

5 Answers 5

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If I am understanding the situation you could:

  • Lie the bin on its side after tying the bag and ease the bag out that way. Rolling and pulling could help.

Ways to stop this from occurring:

  • Take a rubber band or just tie off the bottom of the bag so that when you fill it you will fill it only partially and then the bag will be lighter.
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  • That could actually work!
    – Kevin
    May 6, 2015 at 6:37
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2 options:

  • insert 2 bags, one inside the other in your bin.
  • make a cradle: a net or webbing that fits around the bag. Place the cradle in the empty bin, then place the bag inside the cradle. When it's full; lift the cradle.
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If you are not stingy with the bags, just put a Second bag from the top and lift your can up side down.

With this way, you used 2 bags, but together they're strong.

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  • Garbage bags usually tear at the point where you're holding them. With your solution, you still have the entire weight of the bag concentrated on 1 bag.
    – Hobbes
    May 7, 2015 at 15:04
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Not a hack, but buy a smaller bin - means you have to empty it more often, but at least it won't mean the contents are so heavy the bags tear. It's certainly the solution I ended up with, living in a similar situation...

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Use a wheelbarrow. Or a kid-sized dump truck. Or something else like that.

No, seriously.

Assuming your apartment building has an elevator, just use that for the wheelbarrow.

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