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Biodegradable and compostable plastics are part of a new generation of plastics called bioplastics, and are made from renewable sources such as corn, corn starch or cellulose. When given the right conditions certain bioplastics can breakdown into harmless natural compounds, therefore taking pressure off of landfills. Still confused? Click here.
The more popular bioplastics become, the more you will see them used in everyday products such as a local restaurant's to-go container or a coffee cup. Even businesses, schools, event planners and caterers are using biodegradable plastics in their cafeteria composting program or when composting at special events.
The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) and the U.S. Composting Council have created an
approved compostable products list. The products on this list have been scientifically proven to degrade well in municipal and commercial compost operations.
Intervale Compost Products (ICP) on Intervale Road in Burlington will ONLY accept BPI certified products.
Certified BPI products are accepted for composting through
CSWD's Drop-Off Composting program or at ICP. A partial list of accepted compostable products and the companies that sell them locally can be found below.
So What's the Difference Between Compostable and Biodegradable?
The Good, the Bad, and the Huh??
COMPOSTABLE PLASTICS are made from renewable resources such as corn, corn starch and cellulose. Known commonly as PLA (which stands for polylactic acid resin).
The Good:
-- When properly disposed of at a composting facility, compostable plastics decompose completely into carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass.
-- Compostable plastics that are certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) ARE accepted at Intervale Compost Products and through CSWD's Drop-Off Composting program.
-- If you use compostable plastics at your restaurant or an event, be sure to inform employees or event attendees that you are using them and provide receptacles for compostables or people will throw them in the trash! Click here for downloadable signs.
The Bad:
-- If thrown in the trash, they will take a very loooong time to decompose in the landfill, and in the process of doing so, will generate methane gas, which is 21 times more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide. Even when researchers dug down into the 20-year-old strata of a landfill, they recovered carrots that still looked pretty much like carrots!
-- Compostable plastics are NOT recyclable! Since compostable plastics look identical to petroleum-based plastics, they are often mistakenly thrown into recycling bins. However, they are considered a contaminant if placed a recycling bin. So if you use compostable plastics, DO NOT put them in your recycling bin.
The Huh?
-- Are compostable plastics better to use than regular plastic? The debate rages. Some research suggests that the production of compostable plastic causes an equal or larger carbon footprint than the production of regular plastic made from petroleum products. A large amount of energy goes into farming, fertilizing and fermenting corn to make compostable plastics. And another thing (and there's always another thing!): Because they are plant-based, when dumped in a landfill, they will generate methane gas just like your food scraps do. Landfill-generated methane gas is many times more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide.
PETROLEUM-BASED BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC is a little more complicated. While all compostable plastics are, in effect, biodegradable, the term "biodegradable" has come to mean an environmentally benign-sounding plastic that is usually made from petroleum products. This petroleum-based plastic takes a much longer time to degrade, and when it does, it simply breaks down into plastic dust. Definitely not something you would want in your compost, your soil, or our waterways! They leave a toxic residue, to boot. You'll have to read the label to verify whether it is petroleum-based or truly compostable, or ask the vendor or event coordinator which it is.
The Good:
-- None that isn't counteracted by the ill effects of powdered plastic finding its way into the environment and the living things that inhabit it.
The Bad:
-- If thrown in the trash, petroleum-based biodegradable plastics WILL NOT decompose in the landfill. They require light to break down, and there is definitely no light once they are buried under layers of trash.
-- Petroleum-based biodegradable plastics ARE NOT accepted at Intervale Compost Products.
-- Petroleum-based biodegradable plastics are NOT recyclable! Since compostable plastics look identical to petroleum-based plastics, they are often mistakenly thrown into recycling bins. However, they are considered a contaminant if placed a recycling bin. So if you use compostable plastics, DO NOT put them in your recycling bin.
The Huh?
-- Are petroleum-based biodegradable plastics better to use than regular plastic? In our opinion, absolutely not! Since they're not recyclable, there is no way to recover the valuable materials, not to mention the investment of energy that it took to produce it in the first place.
Please note: There are alternatives to using using compostable ware if you are interested in setting up a composting system at your event, school, or business. Click here to learn more!
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