Recycling Idea Turns Into Clever Invention
What started as a homespun way to stash recyclables has developed into a clever invention—with great potential—for Trace and Penny Zima of Antigo.
Bag-A-Lot is a portable, multi-purpose flexible bag holder that is lightweight and eliminates the need for bulky containers.
The development of Bag-A-Lot dates back almost 10 years, after a particularly onerous time trying to tug a garbage bag filled with aluminum recyclables out of a garbage can. The bag was too heavy to lift, and when it was finally detached from the can it often was torn or only half full.
“I got frustrated,” Zima said.
So her husband, Trace, cut the bottom out of a five gallon bucket, and hung plastic garbage bags from the rim. That worked, but the payday came when Penny Zima decided to create an embroider-hoop type rim, easy to open and close with two circular snaps and eliminating the need to fish the bag through the bucket.
“It was a light bulb moment,” she said. “With Bag-A-Lot it is simple. All I do with any size garbage bag, 13 gallon to 55 gallon, is securely clip the mouth of the bag into the locking ring and that is it.”
The couple originally used Bag-A-Lot for recycling but discovered that when they added a handle, it became great for yard work or roadside cleanup.
Photo by Antigo Daily Journal.
Angela on September 11th, 2008 11:50 am
That is pretty darn handy! I could have used something like that before we moved. Still could use something like that now, actually. :-D That’s a great problem-solving product the couple came up with!
jaeda on September 11th, 2008 4:03 pm
yes, congrats to them.. they done great invention.
cassy on September 11th, 2008 6:55 pm
yes… the invention is very useful. Its a nice garbage container…
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