In 1950, Harry Wasylyk (from Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Larry Hansen (from Lindsay, Ontario) invented a disposable green polyethylene garbage bag intended for commercial use. At first there were sold to the Winnipeg Hospital. Using them for residential garbage came long later.

A Toronto man, Frank Plomp, invented a plastic garbage bag in 1950 as well but it didn't catch on. Maybe he didn't try to sell it, or just not enough.

With so much plastic in our environment now... Still what would we do if there were no plastic bags and only paper bags for everything? A lot of liquid mess would need cleaning up. Maybe someone will come up with the next great idea in garbage bags which are strong, don't leak (usually), and don't end up floating in the ocean, or otherwise being an environmental problem.