Okay, What’s Up with Compostable Plastics?

Have you ever wondered what’s up with those compostable plastics? Can they actually go in the compost? They’re still a single-use item, right? Read on to discover more

Green Spark Group worked with student researcher Samantha Leigh at Quest University Canada to dive into compostable plastics. Leigh developed a research paper that clears up general points of confusion about compostable plastic, certification standards, and composting processes.

In addition, the paper gives an overview of composting-related progress in the Metro Vancouver area, summarizes local facilities and what items they accept, and provides potential directions for future development to reduce single-use items and divert more organic waste from landfill. Key points from the paper include:

Compostable plastics are confusing because:

• They look like petroleum plastics, causing consumers to dispose them incorrectly into recycling or landfill-destined streams.

• There are many Green-Labelled products that are not truly compostable, which cause problems when they end up at a composting facility and add to general confusion.

• They are not accepted in residential (home) compost streams, but are sometimes accepted in commercial streams, causing confusion at disposal.

To be accepted by composting facilities, compostable plastic products must:

• Be certified by ISO, ASTM, BPI, or another internationally-recognized third-party testing body for material compostability.

• Be verified as compostable by the facility and explicitly approved in the contract between the businesses and the composting facility.

• Not be accompanied by contaminants such as non-food waste or petroleum plastics.

If the facility does not accept compostable plastics:

• Use fibre products such as wood, bagasse, and bamboo because they are accepted by and degrade in industrial composting facilities.

• Do NOT purchase or supply compostable plastics to your customers. If they cannot be composted, these products must go to landfill because they are not currently recycled.

• Work with the facility and local government to improve regulations that allow facilities to accept certain types of compostable plastics.

Compostable Plastics Use Guideline

To read the full paper click here.