Can Commercially Compostable Items Be Composted In The Garden?

What is Compostable Packaging?

This is a topical subject and changing quite rapidly. We're getting into the habit of carrying a shopping bag and re-usable cup with us. But the packaging that comes with our internet shop is generally less eco-friendly than we would like.

Not all packaging that we think is compostable actually is. I do feel that some of the labelling is there to confuse us. Are they guessing that most of us don't compost at home and won't find out? To help you through the plastic and cardboard jungle – an outline of the three main categories of so-called compostable packaging. Also, whether you can compost them as part of your own garden composting.

Compostable Packaging

This is packaging based on organic, renewable sources, usually plant based. Some of these are not suitable as a human or animal food source, so avoids the issue of growing crops for packaging. Not an exhaustive list, but includes: –

• bagasse (sugar cane)
• bamboo
• corn (maize)
• eucalyptus trees (for foil)
• mushrooms, mycellium
• palm leaves
• potato
• seaweed
• wood
• wool

The type of material used for food waste bags is fine to put into your garden compost bin. It is fully compostable in a cold composting system.

wine packaging made from agricultural mushroom waste

However, much compostable packaging is only suitable for hot composting and commercial composting. Bio plastics, made from plant starch such as wheat, can be turned into useful compost in 3 – 6 months by commercial composting processes.

If you have a hot composting system in your garden, you'll be able to compost some but not all compostable packaging. It will take longer than the commercial process.

compost heaps in the garden, photo by Adstream on Foter.com

Biodegradable Packaging

Anything which is organic will biodegrade, or rot. Biodegradable packaging is composed largely of biological sources. However, there is no way for the average person to know how long it will take to biodegrade.
Also be aware that the label 'biodegradable' does not tell you is what that material or product will break down into. Not all biodegradable products are compostable; some may be harmful micro-plastics. This should be labelled as a biodegradable plastic
This type of packaging is not suitable for home composting.

Degradable Packaging

To confuse you, this is neither compostable nor biodegradable! All the name degradable packaging tells you is that it is made of materials which will degrade / fall apart quicker in landfill than ordinary plastic carrier bags. It is not suitable for composting.

Compostable Packaging – if not in the Garden, then Where?

So, if you're not able to compost these materials at home, is anyone else composting them? Herewith follows some legal bits and logistical stuff.

Certified compostable products, including packaging (EN 13432) are only compostable under commercial composting conditions. They need to be free of food waste (which is another issue in itself).

In order to be composted, they need to be heated to 70 degrees and regularly turned within an In-Vessel Composting facility (IVC). Which is why so many compostable products are not suitable even for hot composting at home. And just to add to the problem, there are not enough IVCs around; none in London (at time of writing) despite the resident and tourist population!

Did you know that putting compostable packaging in with food waste collection may be logical but also counterproductive?

For most of the UK, the preferred method for composting food waste is Anaerobic Digestion (AD). The problem with this is that anything which isn't food cannot be allowed into the system and turned into compost / fertiliser (PAS10 regulations for quality control). The sorting machines are unable to distinguish between compostable and non-compostable packaging, so it all gets turfed out.

Finally…

I hope I have clarified rather than confused. Remember the order of the '3 Rs' –

• Reduce
• Reuse
• Recycle

Recycling, which includes home composting, is the final stage. It has been scientifically proven that composting helps to reduce some of the effects of global warming. Not merely as an end in itself, but also because of the benefits to the soil that it's mixed into and the plants that it feeds.

To be sure the compostable packaging is suitable for home composting look for the seed logo or 'suitable for home composting' on the label. If it doesn't, it probably isn't. Ask the store and / or manufacturer for clarification if you're not sure. NB: Many of the organic food companies are taking a lead in reducing, reusing, recycling /composting.

And while you're asking questions about composting and recycling, be sure to ask your local council and MP as well. The more consumers ask and request, the quicker there will a need for a response.

This blog has been inspired by Compost Awareness Week 2019 and by my teaching Gardening Courses and designing organic gardens. Composting is an important part of gardening, but it sometimes feels like its got a lot more complicated from the days when I used to top potato peelings into my Mother's compost bin.

International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) is the education initiative of the compost industry, known as the Compost Foundation. It began in Canada in 1995 and is now celebrated globally during the first full week of May.
Do get in touch if you'd like help with your composting whether that's gardening lessons or a garden advice visit.

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Can Commercially Compostable Items Be Composted In The Garden?

Source: https://plewsgardendesign.co.uk/compostable-packaging-can-you-compost-it-in-the-garden/#:~:text=The%20type%20of%20material%20used,in%20a%20cold%20composting%20system.&text=However%2C%20much%20compostable%20packaging%20is,hot%20composting%20and%20commercial%20composting.

Posted by: unknowrandead1995.blogspot.com

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