For the longest time, we attempted to re-use plastic bags from stores as trash can liners — our version of recycling. Those bags didn’t fit in most of our garbage cans, and usually fell or broke, creating a mess.

So, we finally started buying liners (this was a few years ago) and most recently, we bought a big roll of bags that were made with mostly recycled materials.

The next time we head out to buy liners, we’re going to be looking for EconoGreen Plastics. I received some samples in the mail this week, and so far, I really like them.

Econogreen trash bags are made from 100 percent recycled plastic. They are recyclable.

They are also oxodegradable.  While I had heard of this word before, I had to look up the meaning. From what I understand, the plastic is designed to biodegrade more quickly than regular plastics. The Econogreen bags were designed with an additive that starts to break down when exposed to oxygen. They should break down within two years of use.

This means these bags could clear up lots of space in landfills. According to the WorldWatch Institute, only .6 percent of plastic bags are recycled. The rest are thrown in landfills.

Another big bonus of the bags? They are affordable. A box of 30 tall kitchen bags costs $3.99.  You don’t have to order these online — they are on sale at Home Depot stores.

The sample pack they sent me had several types of bags inside — including huge contractor bags and bags for garages. These were heavy duty and a lot bigger than anything we would normally need.

We’ve used three different types of bags at this point, and each of them worked well for us. None broke, split open or fell into the trash can. They were all very sturdy.