The Bellingham Food Co-op is now using biodegradable plastic for its deli containers. The nice server at the Swan Cafe told me they were compostable, but he wasn't sure how fast. So I've been trying it out in my backyard bins these last few months. I've put some in whole, some cut into strips, and with or without first pouring boiling water over them. As yet, nada. The vegies, leaves, and shredded paper are decomposing in their leisurely cold-weather fashion. The plastic looks good as new.
A bit of research tells me that breaking the containers down into CO2, water, and non-toxic organics takes about 6 months in a high-temperature commercial composting facility and closer to a year in a home bin. The actual manufacturer's website, below, says 45 days, but I think that's a marketing fantasy.
These containers are a joint brainchild of Dow and Cargill, and are made from cornstarch--that's three strikes against them in some circles. The technology can also be used to make plastic out of sugarcane, potato, tapioca, cellulose, or soy protein.
http://naturesplastic.wilkinsonindustries.com/NaturesPLAstic/
My conclusion is that I'll try to remember to bring my own containers to the Swan, and when I forget, I'll be adding my bioplastics to the food-waste tote I share with my nice neighbors. But I am curious if others have hit on a home composting solution.
2 comments:
It depends as to what container is made of. PLA containers do not break at home composting facility, as it requires 150F temparature and almost 90 degrees humidity to break down. However, sugarcane containers would break down faster than PLA containers. Compostable deli containers offered by eco Greenwares are the best. Their containers do decompose in less than 60 days at commercial composting facility. Please visit www.ecoGreenwares.com to learn more about their corn PLA and Sugarcane containers.
Thanks for the specific info--that's helpful.
What's a PLA container?
The ones I was trying out were made of cornstarch, I think.
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