These 13 gallon compostable trash bags are the standard tall kitchen format — the size that fits the primary waste bin in virtually every residential kitchen, restaurant back-of-house, and commercial breakroom in North America. Each bag measures 24″ × 35.5″ (61 cm × 90 cm) with a 49.21-liter capacity and features heavy-duty 0.90 mil (23 micron) walls manufactured from plant-derived PLA (Polylactic Acid) and PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate). Dual-certified under OK Compost HOME for backyard composting and EN 13432 for industrial composting facilities, these bags deliver the load capacity, tear resistance, and leak protection that the highest-volume waste bin in any facility demands — while breaking down completely when composted.

SAYRU® 13 gallon compostable trash bags combine 0.90 mil PLA/PBAT construction with dual OK Compost HOME and EN 13432 certification in the industry-standard 24″ × 35.5″ tall kitchen format, making them a direct drop-in replacement for the conventional polyethylene bags that currently dominate the 13-gallon market. The 13 gallon bin is the most frequently changed, hardest-working waste receptacle in any household or commercial kitchen — and the one where compostable bag failures are most visible, most disruptive, and most likely to undermine confidence in the entire sustainability program. Getting this bag right is the single highest-impact switch an operation can make.

Built for the Hardest Job in Waste Management: Tall Kitchen Performance

Heavy-Duty 0.90 Mil (23 Micron) Wall Thickness

The 13 gallon kitchen bin accumulates the heaviest, wettest, most diverse waste stream in any facility — raw food scraps, cooked leftovers, coffee grounds, liquid-soaked napkins, sharp bones, heavy cans, and everything in between. This bin gets filled faster, lifted more frequently, and carried further than any other waste receptacle on-site. Thin compostable bags fail catastrophically under these conditions: bottom blowouts when lifted, side tears from sharp edges, and slow leaks from accumulated liquid that seep across kitchen floors. At 0.90 mils (23 microns), these bags carry walls that are engineered for this exact abuse profile — substantially thicker than the baseline for compostable liners in this size class. The result is a bag you can actually trust to make it from the kitchen to the curb, from the prep station to the dumpster, without incident.

24″ × 35.5″ — The Universal Tall Kitchen Format

The 13 gallon tall kitchen trash can is the most standardized waste receptacle in the world. Step-cans, swing-tops, touch-free sensor bins, pedal bins, and pull-out cabinet-mounted units from every manufacturer are designed around the 13 gallon / 49 liter specification. At 24″ × 35.5″ (61 cm × 90 cm), these bags are dimensioned to fit every mainstream 13 gallon bin on the market — with enough overhang to fold securely over the rim without excessive bunching or wasted material. That universal fit means no guesswork for consumers, no compatibility complaints for retailers, and no return calls for distributors. One size, one SKU, universal fit.

Plant-Based PLA and PBAT Dual-Polymer Engineering

The material system behind these bags is a deliberate two-component blend optimized for the mechanical demands of a full-size kitchen bag. PLA (Polylactic Acid), sourced from renewable plant feedstock, provides the structural backbone — stiffness, puncture resistance, and sustained-load capacity that prevents the slow creep and stretching that causes thin compostable bags to elongate and eventually tear under the weight of a full kitchen load. PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate) contributes the flexibility, elongation, and impact resistance that prevents sudden catastrophic failure when the bag catches on a bin edge, is overfilled, or sustains a sharp impact from inside. This complementary polymer system replicates the handling characteristics of conventional HDPE tall kitchen bags — the stretch, the feel, the confidence — using fully compostable materials.

Dual Compostability Certification — Home and Industrial

The 13 gallon bag is the most regulated bag format in composting programs worldwide because it is the primary household kitchen waste collection vessel. These bags carry both OK Compost HOME certification (administered by TÜV Austria, verifying complete biodegradation under backyard composting conditions) and EN 13432 certification (the European harmonized standard for industrial composting, requiring 90%+ biodegradation within 6 months with strict ecotoxicity and heavy metal limits). Dual certification means every municipality, every composting program, and every regulatory framework is covered — whether the bag ends up in a backyard tumbler, a community composting site, or an industrial processing facility.

Completely Unscented — No Fragrance, No Chemicals, No Compromise

Many conventional tall kitchen bags use heavy chemical fragrances to mask odors — adding synthetic compounds to indoor air, triggering allergic reactions, violating fragrance-free workplace policies, and depositing chemical residue into the compost stream. These bags take a different approach: zero added scents, zero perfumes, zero masking agents. They are safe for scent-sensitive households, food-service kitchens where odor contamination is a concern, healthcare break areas, childcare facilities, and any composting program that prohibits chemical contaminants. The unscented formulation also means the bag contributes nothing except organic matter when composted.

Product Specifications

Parameter	Detail
Pack Count	50 Bags
Capacity	13 Gallon (49.21 Liters)
Bag Dimensions	24″ × 35.5″ (61 cm × 90 cm)
Wall Thickness	0.90 Mils (23 Microns)
Material	PLA (Polylactic Acid) + PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate)
Material Source	Plant-derived / renewable resources
Scent	Unscented
Certifications	OK Compost HOME; EN 13432 (Industrial Composting)
Bin Compatibility	Fits standard 13 gallon tall kitchen bins (step-can, swing-top, sensor, pedal, pull-out)
Recommended Storage	Cool, dry place; use within 12 months of purchase

Certifications & Compliance: The Credentials That Open Every Market

OK Compost HOME — Issued by TÜV Austria, this certification verifies that each bag fully biodegrades under the lower-temperature, less-controlled conditions of a residential backyard compost pile or tumbler. For the 13 gallon tall kitchen bag — the bag most commonly used for household food waste collection — OK Compost HOME is the certification that gives consumers confidence to drop the entire bag into their backyard compost without sorting or separating. For retailers and distributors, this certification is the shelf-level differentiator that justifies a premium over bags that only carry industrial compostability claims.

EN 13432 — The European harmonized standard for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation. EN 13432 mandates quantifiable, auditable performance: disintegration within 12 weeks, biodegradation of at least 90% within 6 months, strict limits on heavy metals, and verified absence of negative ecotoxicity effects on finished compost. For commercial buyers, government procurement, and institutional purchasing — where compliance documentation is a mandatory qualification — EN 13432 is the standard that gates supplier approval. For businesses exporting into EU markets or operating under municipal composting mandates, this certification is non-negotiable.

Together, these two certifications make this 13 gallon bag defensible across every composting regulatory framework in the world. No composting program can reject it for lack of certification — it meets both the most common home composting standard and the most widely recognized industrial composting standard simultaneously.

Where the 13 Gallon Bag Works: Every Kitchen, Every Operation, Every Scale

The 13 gallon trash bag is the most universally consumed waste liner format. It is the primary bag for the primary bin in every kitchen — residential, commercial, and institutional. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of the specific environments where this certified compostable 13 gallon bag solves documented pain points.

Residential Kitchens

The 13 gallon step-can or pedal bin under the kitchen counter is the single highest-volume waste point in most households. It handles everything — food prep scraps, cooked leftovers, coffee filters, tea bags, eggshells, fruit peels, meat trimmings, and general packaging waste. This is the bag that gets used every day, often multiple times per day. The 0.90 mil wall thickness handles the heaviest mixed loads without leaking or tearing, including the liquid accumulation that builds at the bottom of a kitchen bag over a day’s use. For households that compost at home, the OK Compost HOME certification means the entire bag goes directly into the backyard pile with its food waste contents — no separating, no mess. For households using municipal curbside organics collection, EN 13432 certification satisfies program requirements.

Restaurant Kitchens & Full-Service Dining

Back-of-house kitchen waste stations in full-service restaurants, fast-casual kitchens, and quick-service operations use 13 gallon bins at every prep station, dish pit, and line cook position. These bins fill rapidly during service — with dense food scraps, grease-soaked paper, bone fragments, vegetable trim, and mixed liquid runoff. The 0.90 mil construction resists the punctures from sharp bones and the weight of wet food waste that destroy thinner bags mid-shift. Certified compostable bags allow the entire bag to enter the organics waste stream, keeping the operation compliant with municipal composting mandates that prohibit conventional plastic in food waste bins. For restaurant groups standardizing across multiple locations, a single certified 13 gallon SKU simplifies purchasing, training, and compliance documentation.

Hotels & Hospitality — Housekeeping and Kitchen Operations

Hotel kitchens, room service prep areas, banquet staging stations, and staff breakrooms all use 13 gallon bins as their primary waste receptacle. Housekeeping carts carry 13 gallon bags for collecting guest-room waste during full room cleans and deep-turn service. A mid-size hotel can consume 50–100 tall kitchen bags per day across kitchen and housekeeping operations alone. Properties pursuing LEED, Green Key, or EarthCheck certification need certified compostable products at every waste touchpoint — and the 13 gallon bin is the most visible and highest-volume touchpoint in the building. The unscented formulation avoids introducing artificial fragrance into food-prep areas and guest-room corridors.

Corporate Offices & Commercial Breakrooms

Breakrooms, employee kitchens, and pantry areas in corporate offices use 13 gallon bins for food waste, beverage containers, and general break-area refuse. These bins are the communal gathering point for all food-related waste on a floor — and they fill fast during the lunch rush. Companies with ESG reporting commitments, zero-waste targets, or B Corp certification need a verifiable, certified compostable liner for these high-visibility bins. The 13 gallon bag is the format most employees recognize from their home kitchen, making the transition intuitive — no behavior change required, no confusion about which bin takes which bag.

Schools, Universities & Institutional Cafeterias

Cafeteria kitchens, dining hall waste stations, faculty breakrooms, and food-prep facilities across K-12 school districts and university campuses use 13 gallon bins as the primary kitchen waste receptacle. These bins handle the heaviest abuse in institutional settings: overfilling by students, rough handling during service rushes, and dense wet food loads from cafeteria trays. The 0.90 mil wall provides the durability margin that prevents bag failures in high-traffic, minimally supervised environments. Plant-based PLA/PBAT composition satisfies institutional procurement mandates that increasingly require bio-based products. Dual certification ensures the bags are accepted by whatever composting pathway the school district or university system has contracted.

Healthcare Facilities — Cafeterias and Staff Areas

Hospital cafeterias, staff break areas, physician lounges, and administrative kitchens all use 13 gallon bins for non-medical food and general waste. Healthcare systems managing large campuses can consume hundreds of tall kitchen bags daily across food-service and staff-area touchpoints. The unscented formulation is essential in healthcare environments where fragrance policies are strictly enforced. Switching cafeteria and break-area liners to certified compostable bags is one of the highest-visibility sustainability improvements hospital facilities managers can implement without disrupting clinical operations or waste handling protocols.

Catering Companies & Event Food Service

Catering operations — from small local caterers to large-scale event food-service providers — use 13 gallon bins at every prep station, plating line, and serving area. During events, these bins fill at extreme rates: a 200-person seated dinner can fill a dozen 13 gallon bags in a single service window. The 0.90 mil construction survives the weight and moisture of bulk food waste from plating trim, table scraps, and beverage service. For catering companies serving events at venues with composting mandates — increasingly common for weddings, corporate functions, and public events — certified compostable bags are a contractual participation requirement.

Food Trucks & Mobile Kitchen Operations

Food trucks and mobile kitchen trailers use 13 gallon bins as their primary waste receptacle — it’s the largest bag that fits within the space constraints of a mobile kitchen. During high-volume service at festivals, farmers’ markets, and lunch routes, these bags fill quickly with heavy, wet prep waste and service refuse. A leaking bag inside a food truck creates both a slip-and-fall safety hazard and a health code violation. The 0.90 mil wall prevents the leaks that thinner bags allow. For vendors at eco-conscious markets and zero-waste events, certified compostable bags are frequently a mandatory vendor requirement.

Grocery Stores — Deli, Bakery & Prepared Foods

Behind-the-counter waste at deli departments, bakery prep stations, salad bars, sushi counters, and hot food bars produces heavy, wet, rapidly accumulating refuse that 13 gallon bins handle throughout the operating day. Grocery chains with sustainability commitments benefit from standardizing on a single certified compostable 13 gallon SKU across all departments and locations. The 0.90 mil tear resistance handles the weight of meat trimmings, bakery waste, and produce culls. Customer-facing use of compostable bags reinforces the grocer’s environmental brand at the point of purchase.

Co-Working Spaces & Shared Commercial Kitchens

Communal kitchens in co-working spaces, business incubators, and shared office environments use 13 gallon bins that serve dozens of tenant companies. These bins see diverse, unpredictable waste — from packed lunches to catered team meals to coffee service refuse. The universal tall kitchen format means no training is needed; every user recognizes the bag from home. For co-working operators marketing sustainability as part of their space’s brand identity, certified compostable kitchen bags are a visible proof point that resonates with climate-conscious startup tenants.

Municipal & Residential Composting Programs

The 13 gallon bag is the primary collection vessel for most municipal curbside organics programs in North America. Cities and counties that distribute or recommend kitchen bin liners for food waste collection need bags that are certified compostable under the relevant standards for their processing infrastructure. These bags carry both OK Compost HOME (for residents composting at home) and EN 13432 (for materials processed at industrial composting facilities), making them a universal recommendation regardless of the composting pathway available in a given jurisdiction. For municipalities running bag distribution programs, the dual certification eliminates the need to source and stock separate products for different composting methods.

Property Management & Multi-Family Housing

Apartment complexes, condominiums, and managed residential communities increasingly operate building-wide organics collection programs that require or supply certified compostable kitchen bags to residents. The 13 gallon format matches the standard kitchen trash can in virtually every apartment unit. Property managers benefit from distributing a single certified product that works for residents composting at home and those using municipal curbside pickup — dual certification eliminates the need for different bags based on composting method. In a 200-unit building where each unit needs one 13 gallon bag per week, monthly consumption is 800+ bags — a scale that justifies commercial purchasing arrangements.

Outdoor Events, Festivals & Concert Venues

Vendor food courts, backstage catering areas, VIP hospitality tents, and behind-the-scenes production zones at festivals, concerts, and outdoor events all use 13 gallon bins as the primary kitchen-scale waste receptacle. Many event permits now require composting compliance. These dual-certified bags allow event organizers to route kitchen-area waste directly into the composting stream. The 0.90 mil construction survives the rough handling that event waste undergoes — piled into collection carts, compressed during transport, and processed alongside heavy food waste from multiple vendors across multi-day events.

Ghost Kitchens & Meal Prep Facilities

High-volume ghost kitchens and centralized meal-prep operations use 13 gallon bins at every portioning, trimming, plating, and packaging station. These bins are changed multiple times per shift during peak production, generating rapid consumption. For facilities operating under sustainability requirements from delivery platform partnerships, retailer specifications, or third-party food safety certifications, certified compostable waste management is increasingly a contractual obligation. The 0.90 mil wall handles the dense food waste these operations produce without requiring double-bagging.

Replacing Conventional Plastic Tall Kitchen Bags — The Biggest Impact, Simplest Switch

The 13 gallon tall kitchen bag is the single most consumed trash bag format in the world. Hundreds of millions of conventional polyethylene tall kitchen bags enter landfills annually, where they persist for centuries and fragment into microplastics that contaminate soil and waterways. Replacing this one bag with a certified compostable alternative has an outsized environmental impact precisely because of the volume involved.

These compostable bags are manufactured from plant-derived PLA and PBAT — not petroleum — and are engineered to break down completely into carbon dioxide, water, and organic biomass when composted under the conditions specified by their OK Compost HOME and EN 13432 certifications. For households, businesses, and institutions navigating single-use plastic bans, extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation, or voluntary sustainability commitments, switching the 13 gallon kitchen bag is the most visible, most impactful, and most operationally simple change available. No new bins, no new training, no behavioral change — just swap the bag.

The 0.90 mil (23 micron) wall thickness ensures this environmental upgrade carries zero performance penalty. These bags match the tensile strength, puncture resistance, and load-bearing capacity of conventional tall kitchen bags. The only operational difference is what happens after disposal: compost, not landfill.

Storage & Handling Recommendations

These bags are manufactured from plant-based polymers engineered to biodegrade, so proper storage is essential to preserve full performance across the shelf life. Store in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight, heating vents, and moisture. Avoid storing cases or packs on concrete floors in unclimate-controlled environments — use shelving or pallets. Use within 12 months of purchase for optimal tear strength and flexibility. For operations maintaining inventory, first-in, first-out (FIFO) stock rotation ensures every bag performs at its full specification when deployed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will these 13 gallon bags fit my kitchen trash can?

Yes. At 24″ × 35.5″ (61 cm × 90 cm) with a 49.21-liter capacity, these bags are sized to fit the industry-standard 13 gallon tall kitchen bin — including step-cans, swing-top bins, sensor-activated lids, pedal bins, and pull-out cabinet-mounted units from all major manufacturers. This is the universal tall kitchen bag format.

How thick are these bags compared to regular kitchen trash bags?

Each bag features 0.90 mil (23 micron) wall thickness. This is in line with standard-thickness conventional polyethylene kitchen bags and substantially heavier than the 0.50–0.70 mil range common among competing compostable kitchen bags. The extra thickness is specifically designed to handle the heavy, wet, mixed waste loads that 13 gallon kitchen bins accumulate daily.

What certifications do these bags have?

Each bag carries two independent compostability certifications. OK Compost HOME, administered by TÜV Austria, verifies biodegradation under home composting conditions. EN 13432, the European harmonized standard for industrial composting, requires at least 90% biodegradation within 6 months and imposes strict limits on ecotoxicity and heavy metals. Dual certification means the bags are accepted in both backyard composting and industrial/municipal composting programs.

What are these bags made from?

The bags are manufactured from a blend of PLA (Polylactic Acid), derived from renewable plant sources, and PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate). PLA provides rigidity, puncture resistance, and load capacity. PBAT provides flexibility and tear resistance. Together they deliver performance comparable to conventional plastic while remaining fully compostable under the conditions specified by the product’s certifications.

Can I put these bags directly in my home compost pile?

Yes. The OK Compost HOME certification verifies that these bags biodegrade fully under residential composting conditions — the lower temperatures and longer timeframes typical of backyard compost piles and tumblers. Place the entire bag, with its food waste contents, into your home compost system. The bag will break down along with the organic material.

Are these bags accepted in municipal curbside composting programs?

These bags meet the EN 13432 standard, which is widely recognized by industrial composting facilities that process curbside organics collection. However, individual municipal programs set their own acceptance policies. Check with your local composting program to confirm that certified compostable bags are accepted before placing them in your curbside organics bin.

Are these bags strong enough for heavy kitchen waste?

Yes. The 0.90 mil wall thickness is engineered to handle the heaviest residential and commercial kitchen waste — food scraps, coffee grounds, bones, wet paper towels, liquid runoff, and mixed refuse. The PLA/PBAT material blend provides the same stretch, puncture resistance, and load-bearing performance as conventional polyethylene kitchen bags, eliminating the need for double-bagging.

Do these bags have any scent or fragrance?

No. These bags are completely unscented — no added perfumes, fragrances, or chemical masking agents. This makes them appropriate for food-prep environments, healthcare facilities, offices with fragrance-free policies, childcare centers, and any setting where artificial scents are unwanted or policy-prohibited.

How should I store these bags?

Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, heat, and humidity. Because the bags are made from biodegradable plant-based polymers, prolonged exposure to heat or moisture can initiate premature decomposition, reducing tear strength and flexibility. Use within 12 months of purchase for best performance.

Is this product available in larger bulk quantities for commercial buyers?

Yes. In addition to the standard 50-count pack, the 13 gallon format is available in larger commercial case quantities for institutional buyers, distributors, and high-volume operations. Contact SAYRU® directly for factory-direct bulk pricing, custom case configurations, and private-label packaging options.