The Ecoist: Not in Your Backyard!
Posted by Eco-Products on Sep 10th 2012
Can your compostable products go into a backyard compost pile?
I recommend disposing of PLA products in a commercial compost facility only where they can be broken down, turned into compost and then returned to the soil. Home composting typically does not create the consistent composting conditions needed for our products, but commercial facilities can manage just fine.
Home compost varies considerably—and while some expert home composters might be able to keep their heaps consistently mixed, hot enough, and we enough to get PLA to start and completely compost, commercial operations are typically better equipped to deal with PLA. The compost process is a complex ecological system of interactions between fungi, bacteria, and yeasts—all of which play key roles in breaking down organic matter. Commercial operations must manage all of these components in their compost as well as account for the local environmental conditions and seasons. PLA needs high heat for long periods of time that home compost often can’t maintain.
Our products are only certified for commercial facilities, not home, worm, or digester systems for compost. Commercial compost facilities are expanding around the country and there may be one in your area. To find a compost facility near you, please visit the US EPA website or check out Find A Composter
Our very own Sustainability Maven serves up a delicious nugget of green geekery each week. If this little taste leaves you hungry for more, you can always cruise over to the Greenology and/or Training sections at EcoProducts.com for a full helping. If you have a question you can’t find the answer to you can email her at sustainabilitymaven@ecoproducts.com