tip_of_month
Tip of the Month - March 2010
As published in the Lafayette Today newspaper.
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It seems like biodegradable and compostable products are showing up in more and more places around Lafayette—biodegradable plastic cups, potatoware cutlery, dishware, compostable food containers, BioBags, and more. Sounds good, right? But there is a catch.

Compostable plastic
Compostable items are an exciting development in theory. They’re made from plant material (usually corn or potato), aren’t hazardous in production, and can decompose when discarded properly. They also show that we can develop more earth-friendly alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, which can take hundreds of years to break down and have adverse health effects (see link below).

The tricky question with compostable items is how to dispose of them. If we put them in the garbage, they have a slim chance of decomposing because the process requires moisture, heat, and oxygen, so they will most likely sit there for decades or centuries, much like an ordinary plastic cup or fork. We’re not supposed to put them in our recycle bins -- like their plastic cousins -- so let’s skip that. It seems like we should be able to put them in the green bin, but because they take longer to break down than yard and food waste, and are easily mistaken for plastic, they will most likely need to be removed and sent to the landfill.

Manufacturers and waste processors understand these issues and are working to address them by improving product “compostability” and setting up separate recycling processes. The pressure created by all these new products will inevitably lead to new labeling standards and a more sophisticated composting infrastructure…

In the meantime, the smartest choices are the following:
  • Avoid using disposable items. Avoid using disposable items. Avoid using disposable items. That was worth repeating! Use real glasses, cups, plates, and silverware whenever possible.
  • For entertaining, consider renting or buying inexpensive plates, cups, etc. that can be reused. Diablo Foods sells “Preserve” recycled plastic cups and plates, which are made from recycled plastic, can be put in the dishwasher, and reused indefinitely. IKEA is another great source for inexpensive plates and cups.
  • If you must choose a disposable item, then choose one that is recyclable (with #1-5 or #7 on the bottom). Be aware that it does take energy to transform these items into new plastic products (but less than what it takes to extract and make virgin materials).
  • Choose compostable items if you have a solution for disposing of them or think it’s a better alternative than something you’d normally put in the garbage. Maybe you do your own backyard composting and have the skill to manage the process yourself.

To learn more about the adverse health effects of plastics: http://www.ecologycenter.org/factsheets/plastichealtheffects.html

For more tips on how to live sustainably and to read success stories, please visit sustainablelafayette.net.




pdflink to PDF of Lafayette Today that included article on page 10