Most effective trash bag

Jenna Belter, Levi Johnson, Jose Sanchez

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Table of Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 5

Overview of the Options and Criteria ........................................................................................................... 7

Test 1 Method and Results ............................................................................................................................ 7

Test 2 Method and Results ............................................................................................................................ 9

Test 3 Method and Results .......................................................................................................................... 11

Test 4 Method and Results .......................................................................................................................... 13

Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................. 15

Recommendation ........................................................................................................................................ 15

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Introduction

Whether being used in a regular household, office, or warehouse trash bags are essential and common in everyday life. There are many different types of trash bags; degradable bags, biodegradable bags, compostable bags, environmentally friendly bags, and polyethylene bags. While most people have a brand of trash bag they use for different reasons, but why use any trash bag when you can use the best.

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Overview of the Options and Criteria

While choosing which trash bags to test we thought it would be best to choose 4 of the most common trash bag brands (Glad, Hefty, and Brawny) and one generic brand (Great Value-Wal-Mart). We tested by price, thickness, resistance, and strength of each trash bag. By testing for these we could better decide which brand of trash bag is indeed the best, based upon our criteria

Test 1 Method and Results In today’s economy, probably the most important thing when buying common items is price. People are more likely to buy the cheaper brand, because it saves them money. In our first test we compared the prices (per bag) of four major trash bag brands, in the end brawny ended up being the cheapest, followed by great value, glad, and then hefty.

How to do a cost test 1. Buy four types of trash bags 2. Divide the total cost of the box of trash bags by the amount of trash bags in the box.

Cost

Glad Hefty Brawny Great Value (generic) Cost ($ per bag) .235 .244 .12 .158

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Test 2 Method and Results To test for how much weight an individual trash bag could hold, we put weights into the bag and took note on how many pounds it took for the bag to rip, and for the bag to stretch. We chose to do the first version of the weight stress test, instead of the alternate.

How to do a weight stress test 1. Unfold the trash bag and hold it open by the seam created by the pull strings. 2. Place water bottles (weighing 1 lb each) gently into the bottom of the trash bag. Be careful not drop the water bottles from any height because this will cause excessive force to act upon the trash bag. 3. Keep placing water bottles into the trash bag until it stretches. (Note how many water bottles you have placed into the trash bag when this occurs.) 4. Continue to place water bottles into the trash bag until the trash bag rips. (Note how many water bottles you have placed into the trash bag when this occurs.) 5. Repeat with different brands of trash bags

Weight stress test (alternate method) 1. Unfold the trash bag and place the bottom of the bag onto the scale. Make sure that the top of the trash bag is still open. 2. Place a 100lb weight onto the center of the trash bag and scale. 3. Measure the weight of both the trash bag and the 100lb weight. 4. Grasp the trash bag by the seam created by the pull strings and slowly lift straight up. 5. Continue to pull the trash bag straight up until it rips. Read the weight show on the scale as the bag rips. 6. Subtract the new weight from the old weight. 7. Repeat with different brands of trash bags

Weight Held before ripping

Glad Hefty Brawny Great Value (generic) Weight held before stretching (lbs) 25 25 10 10 Weight held before ripping (lbs) 31 46 42 41

Figure 1: Glad Test 2

Figure 2: Hefty Test 2

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Test 3 Method and Results In Test 3 we tested the resistance of each trash bag by using a hunting knife, a pencil, an eraser, and a butter knife to puncture the bag

How to do a puncture stress test 1. Unfold the trash bag and pull the four corners to create tension in the bag. 2. Using either a force gauge or the personal perception of a single person (single blind test) have them puncture the trash bags in roughly the same location. 3. Measure the amount of resistance on a scale of one-five. 4. Repeat with different brands of trash bags

Figure 3:Glad Test 3 Figure 4: Hefty Test 3

Figure 5: Brawney Test 3 Figure 6: Great Value Test 3

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Resistance to being punctured (measured on a scale of 1 to 5. 1 being the least resistant and 5 being the most resistant.

Glad Hefty Brawny Great Value (generic) Eraser end of pencil 1 2 2 4 Writing end of pencil 1 1 1 1 Spoon 5 5 5 5 Butter knife 3 3 3 3 Hunting knife 1 1 1 2 Total score out of 25 11 12 12 15

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Test 4 Method and Results How to do a thickness stress test

1. Unfold the trash bag and place onto a flat surface 2. Slowly sand the surface of the trash bag with 60 grade sandpaper. Make sure to sand the exact same spot with even strokes and pressure. 3. Count the number of stokes required to create a noticeable (1mm) hole in the trash bag 4. Repeat with different brands of trash bags

Abrasion resistance

Glad Hefty Brawny Great Value (generic) # of passes with grade 60 sandpaper 12 7 5 6

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Conclusions

By our results we came to the conclusion that Hefty is the best trash bag. Although Hefty is the most expensive you cannot put a price on quality.

Results of stress tests: Glad Hefty Brawny Great Value

(Generic) Cost (per bag) and point value given

$.235 (2) $.244 (1) $.12 (4) $.158 (3)

Weight held before stretching (lb)

25 25 10 10

Weight held before ripping (lb)

31 46 42 41

Eraser end of pencil

1 2 2 4

Writing end of pencil

1 1 1 1

Spoon 5 5 5 5 Butter Knife 3 3 3 3 Hunting Knife 1 1 1 2 # of passes with grade 60 sandpaper

12 7 5 6

Total score for all categories

81 91 73 85

(Note: The point values given in the table are done on a scale of 1-130. The higher the number the better the product)

Recommendation Although Hefty Is the most expensive of the 4 brands, Hefty is the brand that we recommend due to having the highest score in weight strength and being able to hold the most items before ripping.