Are Flushable Bag Liners Truly Biodegradable?

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11
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206
Mummmeee
Feb 01, 2025 3:05 pm

Disposable bag liners - are they truly biodegradable?  I have had a colostomy for just over a week and, just yesterday I finally reviewed the load of reading materials I was given when I came across an order form for Biodegradable Liners.  My first thoughts:  OMG what a no-brainer - just remove, flush, replace. 
But are they really biodegradable?  I can't find much information on what materials they are made of but they certainly don't look biodegradable, unless one considers that they will finally be gone in a thousand years, like a plastic bag.  Has anyone got access to any studies, reports, etc. on this product?  
I suppose an alternative would be to throw away the 'flushable' liner, full of poop.  I mean, all of my used bags will be going to the Land Fill to join the billions of 'disposable' diapers, DEPENDS, menstrual products, and dog poop wrapped in plastic bags. 

There really isn't a good solution just a choice of the best of the worst:  #1 sending used PLASTIC bags to the landfill, #2 flushing bag liners into the sewer system, or #3 sending full bag liners to the landfill.  Mine is #2 because, I'm old.  I've cared all my life but now I just want to enjoy whatever years I have left.  I've passed on the burden of caring to my grandkids.  Good luck with that.   

Worzie
Feb 01, 2025 3:36 pm

Yikes! I've never heard of such a thing 🤔

I don't think I want to try flushing one either. Even if it were true, you'll most certainly be plunging your toilet more often.

Personally, I drop my waste out the end of my pouch into the toilet. I don't think this biodegradable bag idea is just for the waste. 💩 I would think that they are referring to your pouch as well. That is where it gets scary, and I would never flush that!

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Hugo
Feb 01, 2025 3:40 pm

Hi.  There is a lot of skepticism about whether or not the liners are truly biodegradable.  Personally, I wouldn’t want to take a chance on clogging my plumbing.  I tried using the liners and found it difficult and time consuming to get a good fit inside my pouch.  I coat the inside of my pouch with a deodorized lubricant and emptying it is usually quick and easy.  

warrior
Feb 01, 2025 4:18 pm

The consensus of members on here says they are not even worth the fuss of using them.

A few say they love them.😋

What is more important is if you're using the liner, and your stoma is active, you've got two more things to worry about.

Either use a drainable pouch or toss the closed pouch for a new one. On and off. Grease lightning speed. ⚡️Boom.

AlexT
Feb 01, 2025 5:22 pm

If I remember correctly, they are not to be used if you have a septic system. To me, that means they don’t fall apart either at all or fast enough. Personally, I’d never use them at home and jeopardize my own plumbing system. And if I won’t use it at home, why hassle using it when I’m not at home. 🤷‍♂️ IMO, it’s just 1 more thing to have to deal with, so I choose to not deal with them. 

 

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SusanT
Feb 01, 2025 6:09 pm

I echo the thoughts about flushing those liners. I have a colostomy and use closed end bags then send them to the landfill. It feels wasteful but I was having so much trouble emptying the drainable bags that I gave up. 

I'm sorry environment, but I have too much on my plate to do better. 

Mummmeee
Feb 01, 2025 8:32 pm
Reply to Worzie

They are disposable liners kind of like the degradable bags you line your organic waste bin with!  

Gracie Bella
Feb 01, 2025 8:48 pm

Where I live in New Zealand we do not get rubbish collection, so when I change my ileostomy bag I will empty it first. I dispose of everything in a small plastic bag which comes with my bags. It all goes into black rubbish bags, when full they go on our trailer, and my husband burns our rubbish, all the ash, and everything gets buried deep underground. None of our rubbish goes to the landfill.

But I'd never heard of disposable bag liners. Not surprising since I have an ileostomy.

Mummmeee
Feb 01, 2025 8:54 pm

Thanks for your input. 

So long as I'm polluting and contaminating I'm going to use whatever system is most convenient for me without causing me more problems along the way.  I won't flush liners - not because of the biodegradable controversy, but because they might clog my plumbing which could get costly and messy.  I will use the liners though; but I'll toss them - full of my biohazardous waste - into the landfill along with all the diapers, etc.  I'll also be tossing my used PLASTIC ostomy bags into the landfill where they will sit forever.  These choices don't make me happy or proud but there aren't any others.  It's 2025 - surely someone can come up with truly biodegradable products and safe, healthy ways of disposing of the others.   

Jo 🇦🇺
Feb 01, 2025 11:39 pm

A plumber mate told me the only thing that should be flushed down the crapper is (in his words) "whatever comes outta ya and bog roll"!

No "flushable" liners, no wet wipes or baby wipes that claim they are biodegradable (and are not) and he even said those tissues that contain aloe and other oils are a no-no because they can all combine together and cause those humongous fatbergs in sewerage systems (don't google it if you don't want to be horrified)!

xxxltd
Feb 02, 2025 6:31 pm

I purchase flushable and biodegradable doggie bags from Amazon; I never leave home without them. Not only do I use them everywhere I go—shopping, golf, hiking, travel—but everywhere. When I hike, I always have a small garden shovel and bury any deposits a good 6 inches in the ground and well off any path; I am comfortable they will go earth to earth. FYI: I have used the flushable bags for most of 2 years and have never plugged up a toilet, never. Terry

VanillaBean
Feb 10, 2025 12:04 am

I have tried the Attiva and Colo-Majic bag liners. I asked the companies about the materials. The Colo-Majic are supposed to be flushable, made of Ecovio by BASF, and are biodegradable. But the company has not done testing on septic systems yet. The Attiva also says they are flushable, but I asked, and they are plastic, not biodegradable, so I do not flush those.