Compostable bags are becoming an excellent choice for packaging items in everyday life. Their heavy use makes us have to think about what to do with them, whether to throw them in any bin or to recycle them. This article will tell you the right way.
What are Compostable Bags?
Compostable refers to the fact that items can be broken down into water, carbon dioxide, and other abundant humus at specific levels. The conditions required for degradation include the following:
- Bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms
- Moisture content
- Oxygen
- Heat
After these conditions are met, the organic matter in the compostable bag can be turned into nutrient-rich compost that can promote the growth and flowering of plants.
What are Compostable Bags Made from?
The raw materials for compostable bags are taken from plant resources, such as potato starch, cornstarch, and wood pulp. These raw materials are first polymerized to form the polymeric resin required for the final products. Polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) are two more common polymers used to make the finished bags. Besides, some bags are made from a starch blend. It can be seen that these plant-based bags originate from nature and eventually return to nature.
How to Dispose of Compostable Bags?
Although biodegradable bags can be degraded under certain natural conditions, this is not a reason for us to discard these bags at will. After using the bags, we can put them in a compost pile or compost bin for composting. If your house has a backyard or garden, you can choose a vacant piece of land to use as a compost pile. Fallen leaves in your yard and leaves cut from gardening can be used as composting material, as well as your daily leftover food scraps, which are also good options for composting. There are 4 main steps to home composting. You can read this article for details: How to Compost at Home: A Ultimate Guide for Beginners.
In addition, there is another way to dispose of bags: industrial composting (also known as commercial composting). Industrial composting refers to the process in which microorganisms degrade solid or semi-solid organic matter at an aerobic medium or high temperature under controlled conditions to produce stable humus. Compared to home composting, it can control temperature and humidity more consistently, so the bag can decompose more quickly.
For everyday waste and compostable bags, you can choose to compost at home, or you can choose to put them in a recyclable bin for waste treatment plants to collect and compost together.
How Long Do Compostable Bags Take to Decompose?
Generally speaking, at around 25 degrees Celsius, with the right humidity and sufficient oxygen, compostable bags can be completely degraded within 30 to 60 days by the action of microorganisms. Some conditions are not sufficient, and it may take 6 to 12 months for the items to decompose. How long it takes for a compostable bag to degrade depends on several factors: temperature, moisture, oxygen, microorganisms, and disposal methods.
Why is It Important to Dispose of Compostable Pouches Correctly?
Composting is a more environmentally friendly way of disposing of waste. A large amount of waste and garbage generated in daily life, if discarded on the roadside or in the grass, may leave some harmful substances in the soil and groundwater. So it’s important to dispose of compostable bags and the waste they contain properly. Composting this waste not only eliminates the garbage but also adds nutrient-rich compost to the soil, which helps plants grow. As mentioned above, compostable bags are made from plant-based raw materials. Therefore, it can be said that the correct disposal of compostable bags is a big step towards promoting a good ecological cycle.
Composting Tips
- Raw meat, seafood, and dairy products are not appropriate to throw into compost piles, as they may attract flying insects and mice. If you throw these things into compost, you may end up with a pile of sticky rot instead of useful fertilizer. Additionally, don’t add dog or cat waste to a compost pile, which contains some pathogens and other dirty things that eventually cannot be completely broken down.
- The smaller the material used for composting, the less time it takes. The diameter of the compost material should be less than 2 cm.
- Check from time to time that the center of the compost pile is heating up. The entire compost pile should be warm.
- Keep the compost pile moist. When drying, water can be added appropriately.
- Flip and mix the compost pile to promote air circulation and speed up decomposition.