Most people are acutely aware of the plastic pollution crisis the world is facing today. It’s arguably the single most destructive thing humans have introduced to the planet, polluting our oceans, waterways, and land, poisoning animals, and even finding its way into human blood where it may lodge in organs, damage cells, and lead to chronic illness or premature death.
Regarding single-use plastics, you may have heard of the different types of plastic alternatives out there. From compostable to biodegradable to marine degradable, it can get a bit confusing. And I’m not going to lie; sometimes it is.
If you are concerned about climate change and looking for ways to do better for our planet, home composting may have crossed your mind. Today, we’ll explore the best ways to compost at home.
You’ll learn what products can be composted and, perhaps more importantly, what compostable products must be disposed of through an industrial composting program.
Our mission at Greenprint is to fundamentally combat the global plastic crisis by providing viable and realistic single-use disposable product solutions. Easier said than done! Given changing regulations, the lack of consumer awareness, and the mediocre infrastructure required to handle waste, it has become increasingly complex to offer sustainable packaging solutions properly.
As an alternative to petroleum-based plastic, PLA is generally considered sustainable and renewable; therefore, it offers many “better than” advantages over traditionally made plastics—as long as it’s disposed of properly, either through a recycling program or in a commercial composting facility.
Of the 40 million tons of plastic waste produced in the US in 2021, 85% ended up in landfills. The situation is now at a dire juncture, as plastic is polluting our oceans, land, and even showing up in human blood and the food we eat.
Industrial composting is intended to process high volumes of commercial and industrial organic waste, including municipal waste from household green bins and organic waste from restaurants and other businesses. Industrial composting can also break down compostable plastics and other biodegradable materials.
Historic legislation passed last year in California banning all single-use and non-sustainable packaging. The law is designed to cut plastic use, improve California’s recycling system, and shift the waste burden back onto the packaging industry.
Plastic is quite possibly the scourge of the modern age, a dark legacy we’ll be hard-pressed to put behind us for generations to come. It is difficult and costly to recycle due to the many types of plastic in circulation and the need for multiple systems to collect, transport, sort, degrease, and sanitize each one.