Compostable vs. Biodegradable Bags - What Is The Difference?
October, 2008
RECYCLABLE:
"Recyclable" products can be collected and reprocessed to produce new items.
Common recyclable materials are: paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, aluminum,
and electronic waste. Recycling is very important in diverting waste from
landfills. Check with your local recycling collector to check what materials
in your area can be recycled. The types of items accepted can vary from
location to location. Also, properly sort your recyclables into your
household recycling bins. If your city does not collect recyclables,
you can use http://earth911.org/ to find public and private recycling centers.
BIODEGRADABLE:
"Biodegradable" simply means that a product will break down into carbon
dioxide, water and biomass within a reasonable amount of time in the
natural environment. The term "biodegradable" however has no legal
enforcement or definition. Therefore, the term has been used loosely
by some manufacturers.
One important thing to remember is that biodegradability is a desirable feature
in products such as cleaning agents. Conventional cleaning agents will often
release harmful phosphates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as they break
down, but biodegradable versions will not. Products that are labeled as
"biodegradable" can be disposed of in your garbage. However it is important
to remember that landfills lack the microorganisms and oxygen required for
waste to biodegrade in a timely manner, so you should still try to minimize the amount of wasted material.
COMPOSTABLE:
'Compostable' products are biodegradable, but with an added benefit:
when they break down, they release valuable nutrients into the soil,
aiding the growth of trees and plants. These products degrade within
several months in an industrial composting facility and produce no toxic residues.
Compostability is a desirable feature in traditionally-disposable
products such as plates, bowls, cups and cutlery. These products are commonly
made out of PLA (Polylactic acid), bagasse (sugarcane fiber) or vegetable
starch. It is environmentally-preferable to use disposable products that
are labeled "compostable" rather than just "biodegradable".
Products that are labeled "compostable" must enter an industrial
composting facility in order for it to fully degrade into organic
matter. If your city has a composting facility, place these products
in your compost bins to be picked up. Compostable products will typically degrade
in 30-120 days in an industrial composter, depending on the product size and material used.
If your city doesn"t provide industrial composting, you can dispose of
compostable products in your backyard or home composter, but they will take longer
to biodegrade. If you do not have access to a compost facility or a home composter,
dispose of the compostables in the garbage. This option should be your last resort
as waste does not easily biodegrade in landfills.
Remember: do not put compostables into your recycling! They are not recyclable and
will contaminate the recycling process.
GreenOfficeStore.com offers many environmental solutions to fit your waste management needs, such as:
See all compostable, biodegradable, and recycled trash bag options from GreenOfficeStore.com!
