International Compost Awareness Week - CFTP with Compost Queen
May 2nd 2025
Up until now Compost Queen only processed food scraps and yard trimmings, but were curious about compostable products. Our Product & Zero Waste Specialist in Colorado offered to help them conduct a field test to see which certified compostables would work well in their system.
For the 90 day testing process, we placed 17 mesh bags full of compost feedstock and packaging into the main compost pile. We followed the Compostable Field Test Program (CFTP) test methods, which recently released a database of field test results.
The 90 day testing process is split into two phases: 45 days active composting and 45 days cure. After the 45 day active composting phase , we analyzed half of the bags to see how things were working. PLA had mostly disappeared, minus a few fragments of crystalized PLA (used for hot cup lids and cutlery). The paper and fiber needed some more time. After 90 days, almost everything had disappeared, despite the mesh bag limiting oxygen and moisture inside the bag.
While these results were very impressive, Compost Queen decided to conduct a second, more “real world” test where products will be tossed into the main pile. They are currently a few weeks out from having that completed data set, but initial testing is looking promising. If the Queen decides to accept compostable packaging from select businesses, Eco-Products hopes to work with everyone involved to keep contamination out and only send material that can successfully degrade at their site.
Compost Queen is a small-scale residential and commercial composter in Fort Collins, Colorado. They’ve grown from having small sites scattered across Fort Collins to having a state-of-the-art facility just outside of downtown.
