They’re not just Trash Bags…They’re CANLINERS

30 September 2024

When choosing the right canliner for your business, it’s important to understand the various types available and their best uses. The two main categories of can liners are high-density and low-density (also known as linear low-density polyethylene, or LLDPE). Each has unique characteristics that make it suitable for different applications.

1. High-Density Can Liners

High Density Can Liner

Material Characteristics:

  • Made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
  • Thinner and lighter than low-density liners, but very strong for their weight.
  • Not as stretchy or flexible as low-density liners (punctures more easily).
  • Usually white or clear.

Best Uses:

  • Ideal for environments where you need to dispose of lighter, non-sharp materials like paper, bathroom trash, and office waste.
  • Great for handling dry waste in environments like offices, retail spaces, and bathrooms.
  • Due to their lightweight nature, they are more cost-effective in applications with high-volume waste that is not too heavy or jagged.

Key Feature:

  • High-density can liners are great for cost-conscious buyers because they hold a large capacity of waste without needing the thickness of other types. These liners are measured in microns for thickness.

2. Low-Density (Linear Low-Density) Can Liners

Low Density Can Liner

Material Characteristics:

  • Made from linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE).
  • Thicker and more flexible than high-density liners.
  • Strong resistance to tears and punctures, especially from sharp or jagged objects.
  • Offers superior stretch and strength (difficult to puncture).
  • Usually black

Best Uses:

  • Perfect for disposing of heavy, sharp, or wet waste. Think of environments like kitchens, workshops, construction sites, and outdoor trash cans where the liner might encounter rough or bulky materials.
  • They perform well in areas with mixed or rougher waste, where the liner needs to stretch without tearing.

Key Feature:

  • Low-density can liners are generally thicker than high-density ones and are measured in mils (thousandths of an inch). These bags are ideal for tough waste handling needs.

Impurities

Plastic Resin Beads

Canliners (and all plastic films) are made from plastic resin beads. These beads are melted and blown into films of various shapes and sizes. Additives are often mixed in with the resin in order to change the characteristics of the films for specific usages, such as making the films more heat resistant, more stable or more moldable. However, additives are often used to artificially increase the weight of the product. Since films are often sold by weight, this decreases the cost of production at the expense of product quality. Films with high impurity content are weaker as the impurities create weak points in the film. Impurities can be easily viewed in canliners by holding the bag up to a light source.

Microscopic detail of a generic canliner
Microscopic detail of Unlimited Florida Sales canliner
*Black low density canliners viewed through a light source. On the left is a canliner from one of the largest distributors in the US. On the right is an Unlimited Florida Sales canliner manufactured locally in Jacksonville Florida.

Common Can Liner Sizes

Can liners come in a wide range of sizes to suit different containers, from small office bins to large industrial barrels. Here are some of the most common sizes:

  1. 7 to 10 Gallon Can Liners: Typically used in bathrooms and small office wastebaskets.
  2. 12 to 16 Gallon Can Liners: Ideal for larger indoor trash cans often found in offices, kitchens, and retail environments.
  3. 20 to 30 Gallon Can Liners: Perfect for medium-sized waste containers, common in break rooms and smaller kitchens.
  4. 33 Gallon Can Liners: A very popular size for larger indoor bins often used in restaurants, cafeterias, and commercial kitchens.
  5. 45 to 55 Gallon Can Liners: Great for large outdoor or high-capacity waste bins, common in industrial settings and outdoor areas.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Can Liner

  • Strength Requirements: For heavier, sharper objects, opt for low-density liners, while high-density liners are best for lighter, non-abrasive waste.
  • Bag Size: Choose the appropriate liner size for your waste receptacle to avoid overfilling or excess slack in the liner, which can lead to spills or inefficiency.
  • Environment: Consider where the can liner will be used. For instance, kitchens and restaurants will need strong, durable low-density liners, while offices and bathrooms can typically use high-density bags.

The Plug

At Unlimited Florida Sales, we take pride in offering high-quality can liners that are manufactured locally in Jacksonville Florida. Unlike many other manufacturers who use additives like stone and calcium to bulk up their products and meet weight requirements, our can liners are made from nearly 100% pure resin. This means no impurities or unnecessary fillers—just reliable, durable bags you can trust.

By refusing to incorporate filler additives, our can liners are true to gauge, ensuring consistent thickness and performance across every bag. You get the full value of your purchase without any hidden shortcuts and still at a better price.

Make the switch to superior, locally-made can liners with Unlimited Florida Sales and experience the difference in quality firsthand!

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