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Senior writer Karen Iorio Adelson has covered everything from stocking a medicine cabinet to adopting a pet. She's especially passionate about running (she worked in a running store) and cat furniture Biodegradable Tall Kitchen Trash Bags

Senior writer Karen Iorio Adelson has covered everything from stocking a medicine cabinet to adopting a pet. She's especially passionate about running (she worked in a running store) and cat furniture

A good trash bag doesn’t call much attention to itself: It holds your garbage and eventually gets thrown out itself. A bad trash bag, however, makes itself known. It can cause a stinky mess if it leaks, breaks, or fails to hold in odors. To find out which ones can truly stand up to heavy loads and powerful smells, we consulted with nine experts, including professional cleaners and some non-pros with very strong opinions. With bags for kitchens, bathrooms, and even compost bins, their picks should have you covered for everything you toss out.

Best Biodegradable Kitchen Trash Bags These sturdy trash bags — and other variations on the basic kitchen size — were the most frequently mentioned among our experts. Ilya Ornatov, owner of Seattle-based cleaning company NW Maids, says ForceFlex bags “never break or leak no matter how much you put into them.” Irina Nikiforova, owner of Los Angeles–based cleaning service Rocket Maids, agrees. She says they’re the perfect bags for most households because they “won’t leak, aren’t expensive, and come with drawstrings that are easier to handle than regular twist ties, especially if your bin is overfilled.”