frequently
asked
questions

The Sumus bag can be used without problems in two ways:
• placing it in an aerated basket, ie with perforated bottom, sides and lid.
• without any basket, but taking care to place the bag on a surface that allows the passage of air especially from the bottom (a large mesh floor cloth is sufficient).

The important thing is that there is the possibility of air flow.
The Sumus bag was created to let waste transpire. When placed in a closed basket, the air has no exchange, organic waste begins to rot and annoying odors and sewage develop.”

Yes, but be aware that the basket they provided is not perfectly suitable for the use of the Sumus bag and therefore sewage and odors could develop.
The basket, to be truly aerated, must have a perforated bottom. Yours is an “almost” closed basket (See D1).
We recommend that you ask your Municipality to change the basket with one that also has a perforated bottom. In the meantime, if you can, drill a dozen or so half-centimeter holes in the bottom of the basket.
Alternatively, if you have no pets at home or have a space that is inaccessible to them, take care to place the bag alone on a surface that allows air to pass through, especially from the bottom (a coarse-meshed floor cloth is sufficient). However, the place must allow for air exchange.

If the bag can’t be closed normally, it means that it has exceeded the maximum recommended level and has filled the bag to the brim or almost.
You continued to fill the bag without realizing that – if you had done the same with other types of bags – he would have seen the waste spill out of the basket.
The bag is not small, but very effective in exploiting the aerobic reactions (i.e. with the oxygen in the air) so much so that, unlike other types of bags, in Sumus there is a strong reduction in weight and volume of the wet waste without producing nauseating smells and sewage.
Its volume is able to manage about 12 liters of organic volume and up to a maximum of just over 3 kg of waste.
In this case, we recommend filling the bag up to the height of the dotted line where there is the wording “Fill up to here”. (See also D3)

Dear user, do not lift the bag when it is too wet.
the Sumus bag is made of recycled paper and by its nature, as soon as it comes into contact with more than just wet residues such as watermelon or melon scraps, it immediately moistens. If the bag is lifted when it is still very wet there is a risk of breaking, almost always due to tearing of the paper where the bag is held, much more rarely due to partial ungluing of the bottom.
In these cases you just need to have the patience to wait some time (order of hours) before lifting the bag.
This gives the bag paper time to dry thanks to the evapotranspiratory action of the air flow that the internal bottom allows to activate in the bag.
Some precautions to reduce the waiting time:
• the rinds of watermelon or melon, before being put in the bag, should be cut into pieces. More surface is offered to the oxygen in the air and the waste “dries” faster
• if there are many peels, it would be advisable to place a sheet of house paper between the first layer and the second. This also helps to absorb excess fluids in the first place
• Place the basket with the bag in the sun – if possible.”

The development of midges, completely natural in the presence of organic fruit residues, occurs in the hottest periods. Under normal conditions, development is related to the use of the same bag for about five days (the development time of fruit flies from eggs to the adult).
To reduce their presence, the forethought is to cover or wrap the fruit scraps in a sheet of home paper, the paper used to clean dishes or kitchen surfaces. Although for some it is very difficult as they use the bag even for seven to eight consecutive days, do not use the bag for more than five days after the first waste insertion.
However, the origin of the midges does not always occur in the bag. It has happened that the midges originate from other sources (e.g. from the garden of a neighbor who has left fruit to rot on the ground).
Flies – a much rarer phenomenon – are instead attracted by meat residues.
The advice in both cases is always the same: cover the fruit residues with home paper

Sumus bags are ideal for the best yield of the home composter. The very first reactions of composting already take place inside them, so that the waste coming from Sumus and poured into the composter is already much more active for composting reactions. Not only that: in general, those who have the composter can use the same bag several times (usually three or four). Once no longer usable, the bag must be torn up and thrown into the compost bin: it is an excellent structuring agent for composting.”

Dear user, you will not only be able to, but will see that they will tell you that you have to use the Sumus bags. For various technical and management problems of electromechanical composters, manufacturers recommend using only paper bags, avoiding all film bags (plastic or bioplastic).

We invite you to overcome the justifiable prejudice and try the Sumus sack that has been used in Italy and abroad for years by over 900,000 families.
The only precautions to use the bag well are:
• gently open the bag by holding it with one hand by one edge and inserting the other hand inside and begin to form the bottom.
• spread the cardboard you found inside on the inner bottom of the bag
• fold the edge flaps and place the bag in a fully perforated basket (bottom, sides, lid).
You will discover in a few weeks that the bag does not break, does not stink and does not create annoying odors and liquids.

Every time you go to the supermarket you pay the sack they give you at the cashier. Do the bill yourself, but on average your family spends between 25 and 40 euros a year.
These bags, hoping that they did not break during the transport of what they purchased, used as a wrapping for the wet, could create problems both in the management of collection costs and in the organic recovery plants.
Your municipality has made the right choice: if there is – but we do not believe – an increase in the waste tariff, it will be contained in a few Euros and you will have saved many more as a family.
And if you want to do really well, go to the supermarket with a reusable bag. The environment and we all thank you.