If you’ve ever been turning over your compost heap and found months-old “compostable” plastic items that were still mostly intact – well, you’re not alone. New research states that 60% of such plastics don’t fully biodegrade in home composting systems.
The findings are the result of a study undertaken by scientists from University College London, which began with ordinary citizens from across the UK completing an online questionnaire regarding their habits and opinions relating to compostable plastic and food waste.
Participants were then invited to take part in the Big Compost Experiment, which involved regularly checking their home compost for traces of previously discarded compostable plastic items, over a 24-month period. Those objects were placed in non-biodegradable open-mesh bags when initially put in the compost, so they’d be easier to find when later digging through it with a spade or trowel. Photos and descriptions of the unearthed items were submitted to the scientists.
While a variety of different composting systems were used, the most common was an outdoor closed-bin setup, utilized by 64% of the 1,648 people who participated in the experiment. The supposedly compostable plastic items included things like disposable cutlery, cups, bags and newspaper wraps.
If you’ve ever been turning over your compost heap and found months-old “compostable” plastic items that were still mostly intact – well, you’re not alone. New research states that 60% of such plastics don’t fully biodegrade in home composting systems.
The findings are the result of a study undertaken by scientists from University College London, which began with ordinary citizens from across the UK completing an online questionnaire regarding their habits and opinions relating to compostable plastic and food waste.
Participants were then invited to take part in the Big Compost Experiment, which involved regularly checking their home compost for traces of previously discarded compostable plastic items, over a 24-month period. Those objects were placed in non-biodegradable open-mesh bags when initially put in the compost, so they’d be easier to find when later digging through it with a spade or trowel. Photos and descriptions of the unearthed items were submitted to the scientists.
While a variety of different composting systems were used, the most common was an outdoor closed-bin setup, utilized by 64% of the 1,648 people who participated in the experiment. The supposedly compostable plastic items included things like disposable cutlery, cups, bags and newspaper wraps.
Study shows majority of “home compostable” plastics don’t fully degrade [NEW ATLAS]