Is composting a form of recycling?
Yes. Composting is recycling, according to the U.S. Composting Counsel, and an emerging contributor to recycling activities throughout the country that have included aluminum and ferrous metals, paper, and plastics and a host of others that have been accepted by the general public and eventually acquired a sustaining economic base.
What are 3 primary objectives for the composting process management?
- To establish and maintain a controlled environment for a rich diversity of vigorous biological activity.
- To minimize the generation of offensive odor-producing byproducts.
- To treat pathogens and kill weed seeds, ensure biological stability and chemical maturity, and remove unwanted materials consistent with local regulatory and market requirements.
Is Biodegradable and Compostable the same thing? NO.
Biodegradable: A material that is capable of undergoing decomposition into simple compounds such as carbon dioxide, methane, water, inorganic compounds and biomass in which the predominant mechanism is the enzymatic action of micro-organisms. Biodegradable items are capable of decomposing rapidly by microorganisms under natural conditions (aerobic and/or anaerobic).
Compostable: A controlled aerobic decomposition process by which microorganisms or soil invertebrates reduce materials into component compounds, producing carbon dioxide and water as primary by-products. The ASTM definition of compostable is “capable of undergoing biological decomposition in a compost site as part of an available program, such that the material is not visually distinguishable and breaks down into carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass at a rate consistent with known compostable materials”.
What are some benefits of composting?
- Composting weather in the backyard or on a commercial level is an excellent method for managing organic residues and by-products. By removing organics from our waste streams we not only recycle but we also return to the earth a rich valuable resource capable of sustaining new and healthier plant life. Mother Nature’s own process has provided our society with the ability to turn a perceived negative into a positive.
- Composting promotes waste reduction. Waste reduction is essential as population growth continues and the strain on our natural resources continues to increase. It is becoming more important to teach people the long-term benefits of reducing the waste they generate. By reducing the amount of garbage we send to the landfill we conserve natural and other resources, improve the environment and reduce garbage collection and management costs.
- Compost when used as a soil amendment can greatly increase the soils ability to retain moisture. Compost can be mixed with sandy soils to enhance organic stability and water retention.
- Compost has the ability to bind heavy metals and other contaminates, reducing both their leachability and absorption by plants. Therefore, sites contaminated with various pollutants may often be improved by amending the native soil with compost. The microbes found in compost are also able to degrade some toxic organic compounds, including petroleum (hydrocarbons). This is one reason why compost is being used in bioremediation of petroleum contaminated soils.
How long does it take to make good compost?
Good compost can be achieved in 8 to 12 weeks under the Hot/Fast method or under the Slow/Cold method listed below.
Hot fast method:
- Two parts brown materials (carbon source) leaves, straw, saw dust or wood chips.
- One part green materials (nitrogen source) grass, food scraps, weeds or manure. (No pet waste)
- Maintain a level of 55% moisture. Keep material as damp as a wrung out sponge.
- Aerate, turn and mix pile frequently. Especially during the first 3 weeks.
Cold slow method:
- Fill your compost bin or start a pile with a mix of brown and green materials.
- Make sure the pile has enough moisture. 40% to 55% to start.
- Use the Biocorp food scrap bag to collect food scraps from your home. Always dig a small hole and bury the bags within the pile. After placing the bags into the hole or pile, take a shovel, pitchfork or stick to chop and stir the contents.
- Stir or mix the pile occasionally. Once weekly would be fine.
- Add more food scrap, grass, leaves and manures and mix as you go.
- Good finished compost will be at the bottom of the pile in approximately 8 to 12 months.
Can we compare plastic disposables to compostable disposables? No.
This is not a comparison. Compostables are not plastic just as plastic is not compostable. One must decide to make the choice to do the right thing for the environment or continue using plastic and filling our landfills. Our cutlery products are 100% compostable and are DIN Certco certified to compost. When analyzing costs compared to plastic and Styrofoam, compostable and biodegradable disposables are going to be higher priced. The technology is new and the demand is growing. We will do everything possible to keep the cost of these items affordable to all. Our commitment is to make the environmental choice to a cleaner healthier earth for everyone.
What is Biograde 300-A Cutlery and how does it breakdown?
The Biocorp Biograde 300-A cutlery is a special blend comprised of sugar cane byproduct (cellulose) 50%, and natural fillers primarily limestone. All of the components in our cutlery are constructed and molded from natural 100% biomass materials that are easily consumed by microbial activity in a compost pile reaching PFRP (Process to Further Reduce Pathogens). The Biocorp Biograde 300-A is a DIN-CERTCO certified product for compostability. DIN-CERTCO is a European certification that is recognized worldwide for certifying the products ability to compost. The DIN-CERTCO certification number for our Biograde 300-A cutlery is DIN EN 13432. This certification number says that the product will be completely consumed in a commercial compost field in less than 180 days.
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