8 Things to Know About Compost Facilities and 6 Tips ...

8 Essential Insights About Compost Facilities and Tips for Composting

While the China Recycling Ban has garnered significant attention, much less focus has been given to the challenges surrounding the composting industry, which is grappling with the growing interest in biodegradable plastics and other materials.

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Recently, there has been a noticeable shift towards compostable single-use packaging, including bioplastics. However, misconceptions abound regarding compostable items' behavior in diverse environments. Many consumers mistakenly believe that compostable products decompose effortlessly, regardless of their disposal conditions. Furthermore, it's essential to recognize that composting operates as an economic cycle similar to recycling, facing unique challenges.

In collaboration with a local waste management company, we gained insights into the hurdles faced by composters, reflecting the industry's adaptation to meet the rising demands for composting.

Key Takeaways About Composting

1. The Composting Supply Chain is Complex

When using industrial compost services, your compost materials are collected by a hauler and delivered to a composting facility. Here, efforts are made to remove contaminants, employing both manual and automated methods. Composters differ in their processing techniques, with some using anaerobic or aerobic windrow methods. After about 120 days, the compost mixture is sifted to filter out non-decomposed items, which are then marketed for landscaping and construction.

2. Economic Challenges Exist Throughout the Process

Transporting compostable material is often 1.5-2 times more expensive per pound than sending it to local landfills. Consequently, consumers may face higher costs for composting services. Composters also struggle with the lack of local buyers for their finished compost, prompting environmental advocates to encourage compost use in agriculture.

3. Increased Interest in Compostable Products Poses Challenges

Composters that initially catered to specific industrial needs, such as food waste, have been pressured to include more compostable products in their operations. However, most U.S. composters only manage yard waste and food scraps, with the inclusion of compostable wares often exceeding their processing capabilities.

4. Understanding Biodegradability and Compostability

The term 'biodegradable' indicates that a product can break down into natural elements, but provides no guarantee about the conditions or timeframe of decomposition. In contrast, 'compostable' refers to materials that will decompose under certain composting conditions within a specified period, typically 120 days for industrially certified items.

5. Certification Does Not Guarantee Composting Success

Even with certifications like BPI, composters often encounter difficulties processing certified compostable materials. Variations in composting systems can impact the degradation process, and this emphasizes the need for field-testing of materials.

6. Contamination Issues Are Prevalent

Composters frequently battle contamination from non-compostable plastics. Even after sifting out undecomposed materials, small fragments may remain, diminishing the quality of the compost produced.

7. Some Regions Are Restricting Acceptance of Compostable Wares

In Portland, Oregon, residents have been instructed to dispose of compostable wares in landfills, reverting to limited acceptance focused solely on yard and food waste. This change reflects the ongoing tension between community expectations and operational realities within the composting industry.

8. Compostable Materials Are Best Suited for Food Service

Many composters agree that compostable packaging serves a vital role in the food sector, ideally where wastage can be closely managed. However, outside foodservice contexts, there is reluctance to embrace compostable wares.

Tips for Effective Composting at Home and in Business

1. Understand your composter's accepted materials—whether they take yard trimmings, food waste, or other compostable items, knowing what’s allowed is crucial.

2. When in doubt, the safer choice is to toss questionable items into the landfill instead of risking contamination in compost.

3. Prioritize recyclability over compostability unless composting is essential.

4. If compostability is critical, consider materials like paper packaging that biodegrades in almost any environment.

5. Ensure your packaging partners provide detailed answers concerning certification and field tests of compostable materials.

6. Conduct field tests on compostable packaging before wider application.

The prospect of turning organic waste into high-quality compost for enriching soils is promising. As new materials emerge, the focus should include designing not just for certification but for effective integration within existing composting operations.

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