Sofia Martinez
Compostable plastics are designed to biodegrade into soil conditioning material, also known as compost. They are transformed into a polymer that looks and feels like traditional plastic but breaks down under specific composting conditions. The best way to dispose of compostable plastics is to send them to an industrial or commercial composting facility where they can break down with the right mixture of heat, microbes, and time. However, not all recycling facilities have these capabilities, and compostable plastics cannot be recycled in the same way as traditional plastics. If your local area does not have access to an industrial composting facility, the only option may be to throw compostable plastics in the trash.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to dispose of compostable plastic | Send it to an industrial or commercial composting facility where it can break down with the right mixture of heat, microbes, and time |
| Throw it in the 'general' or 'compostables' waste bin | |
| Compost it at home using hot composting | |
| If no other option is available, throw it in the trash | |
| Compostable plastic decomposition requirements | High temperatures and moist conditions for a relatively long period |
| The presence of microbes | |
| Industrial or commercial composting facilities | |
| Compostable plastic recycling | Compostable plastics cannot be recycled in the same way as plastic |
| Compostable plastics should not be put in with plastic recycling |
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What You'll Learn
Check local waste disposal guidelines
Checking local waste disposal guidelines is crucial when dealing with compostable plastic. The disposal methods for compostable plastic can vary depending on your location.
In the United States, for instance, the Federal Trade Commission's "Green Guides" provide standards for degradable claims. If a product is labelled as compostable, it generally needs to be sent to an industrial or commercial composting facility. These facilities have the necessary high temperatures and specific breakdown conditions to properly compost the plastic.
Some local governments or recycling companies may offer residential compost collection programs that accept compostable plastic. It is important to check with your local authorities to determine if they will accept compostable plastic under such programs. Additionally, your local city or county may have specific enforcement plans and labelling requirements for compostable plastic. For example, in Washington, there are specific labelling rules for compostable plastics, and producers must ensure their products meet these standards.
If there is no local composting program or facility available, it is recommended to contact your garbage or recycling company to inquire about any drop-off locations for compostable plastic items.
It is worth noting that compostable plastics should not be placed with other plastics for recycling. They are designed to break down under specific composting conditions and can contaminate the recycling stream if mixed with non-compostable plastics.
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Compost at home
Compostable plastic is typically made from renewable raw materials such as corn starch. It is transformed into a polymer that looks and feels like traditional plastic. However, it requires specific conditions to break down.
The best way to dispose of compostable plastics is to send them to an industrial or commercial composting facility. These facilities provide the right mixture of heat, microbes, and time for compostable plastics to break down.
If there are no such facilities in your area, you may need to dispose of compostable plastics in the trash. It is important to note that most backyard compost piles do not get hot enough to effectively compost these plastics. They require high heat sustained over a long period, which even some industrial compost facilities cannot maintain.
However, there are certain compostable plastics labelled as "home compostable," which can be added to your home compost heap. To identify these, look for the certification label from the Biodegradable Products Institute or the number 7 recycling symbol with "PLA" underneath. Unless the label specifically indicates that the product is suitable for home composting, it should not be composted at home.
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Dispose of in 'general' or 'compostables' waste bin
Compostable plastics are designed to biodegrade into soil conditioning material, also known as compost. They are transformed into a polymer that looks and feels like traditional plastic. The best way to dispose of compostable plastics is to send them to an industrial or commercial composting facility where they can break down with the right mixture of heat, microbes, and time.
If your city or county runs a composting program, they may accept compostable plastics. However, it is important to check with your local recycling coordinator if the local compost facility accepts compostable plastics specifically. Compostable plastics require specific conditions, including high temperatures and moisture, for a long period to degrade and turn into compost. Therefore, even some industrial or commercial compost facilities do not maintain the required temperature for a long enough period to fully degrade the plastic.
If there is no access to an industrial or commercial composting facility, the only option is to throw compostable plastics in the general or compostables waste bin. While this is not ideal, it is better than disposing of them along with other plastics, as this would severely impact the quality of recycled plastic. When disposed of in the general or compostables waste bin, compostable plastics will either be dumped in a landfill or incinerated, which may be useful as an energy source.
It is important to note that compostable plastics should not be put in with plastic recycling as they cannot be recycled in the same way. They are designed to break down under specific composting conditions rather than be recycled. Home composting is an option for some compostable plastics, but it requires proper hot composting, which involves monitoring temperatures and regularly turning the materials.
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Send to a commercial or industrial composting facility
Sending compostable plastic waste to a commercial or industrial composting facility is a recommended way to dispose of compostable plastics. These facilities are designed to handle large volumes of municipal and commercial waste. They employ techniques such as windrow, in-vessel, and aerated static pile composting to efficiently process waste. Commercial composting facilities offer better decomposition conditions with higher temperatures and different breakdown conditions than those found in a typical homeowner's compost bin. They are equipped with better aeration equipment, increasing the composting temperature to above 50°C, allowing for the quicker processing of diverse organic waste.
It is important to note that not all recycling facilities have commercial or industrial composting capabilities, and even some industrial or commercial compost facilities may not maintain the required high temperatures for long enough to fully degrade compostable plastics. Therefore, it is essential to check with your local government or recycling company to determine if they accept compostable plastics under their collection program or if there are specific drop-off locations for such items.
Compostable plastics should not be placed in plastic recycling bins as they cannot be recycled in the same way and can contaminate the recycling stream. They are specifically designed to break down under certain composting conditions. If compostable plastics end up being recycled with other plastics, the quality of the recycled plastic will be severely impacted.
When sending compostable plastic waste to a commercial or industrial composting facility, it is crucial to ensure that the products are certified as compostable. Uncertified compostable plastics will not be accepted by these facilities, and there may be suspicions of greenwashing. Certification labels, such as TÜV AUSTRIA OK compost INDUSTRAL, DIN CERTCO DIN-Geprüft industrially compostable, and BPI COMMERCIAL COMPOSTABILITY CERTIFICATION, indicate that the products meet the conditions for commercial composting and will completely decompose within the specified timeframe.
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Do not recycle with other plastics
Compostable plastics are designed to be transformed into soil conditioning material, or compost. They are not meant to be recycled with other plastics.
The best way to dispose of compostable plastics is to send them to an industrial or commercial composting facility, where they can break down with the right mixture of heat, microbes, and time. These facilities have specific requirements for a material to be labelled as commercially compostable. The plastic must be able to break down through biological treatment and decompose within six months, leaving no toxic residue that could harm plant growth.
However, not all recycling facilities have these composting capabilities. If your local facility does not accept compostable plastics, your only option is to throw them in the trash. Compostable plastics should not be recycled with other plastics because they cannot be recycled in the same way and require very specific composting conditions. If compostable plastics end up being recycled with other plastics, the quality of the recycled plastic will be severely impacted.
To identify compostable plastics, look for the compostable label from the Biodegradable Products Institute or the number 7 recycling symbol with "PLA" underneath. Some manufacturers will also clearly indicate that the material is made of compostable plastic.
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Frequently asked questions
The best way to dispose of compostable plastics is to send them to an industrial or commercial composting facility where they can break down with the right mixture of heat, microbes, and time. If your city or county runs a composting program, they may accept compostable plastics, but it is best to check with your local recycling coordinator. If there is no such facility in your area, the only other option is to throw them in the trash.
Compostable plastics are designed to biodegrade into soil conditioning material, also known as compost. They are transformed into a polymer that looks and feels like traditional plastic but can break down under specific composting conditions.
Compostable plastics can be difficult to recycle as they require commercial/industrial composting facilities. They should not be put in with your plastic recycling as they cannot be recycled in the same way. If compostable plastics end up being recycled along with other plastics, the quality of the recycled plastic will be impacted severely.
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