Did you know that many of the products we buy today labelled as "compostable" actually aren't capable of composting? 🌱
This is because there are two different types of composting: residential/home composting and commercial/industrial.
These two types of composting are often misunderstood, which can cause confusion for consumers when companies advertise their products as 'compostable' when this isn't always the case (another classic example of greenwashing!).
And so for Compost Awareness Week, I'm breaking down the key differences between residential/industrial and commercial composting to help others make more informed decisions about their purchases and how they dispose of waste.
But first...
What is "Composting"?
Compostable items are made from natural materials and completely break down without any harmful leftovers. They must meet specific standards outlined in the European Standard EN 13432, and the process of composting involves breaking down organic matter through the use of fungi, bacteria, insects, and other organisms to create a 'nutrient-dense' compost.
This compost can be used as a powerful fertiliser and soil conditioner, which then restarts the cycle from food to waste to compost to food!
However, not all compost is the same, and this is why it's important to learn the difference between industrial and home composting, which depends on the setting and the conditions required for the items to decompose.
Home Composting
Home Composting (aka residential composting) produces nutrient-rich soil from a breakdown of organic waste like food scraps, grass clippings, tea bags, leaves etc. and occurs over a period of several months in home compost bins or backyard compost barrels.
Unfortunately, though, (as I've learned the hard way!) home composting is unable to break down the materials from PLA bioplastic products, and this is where 'industrial composting' comes into play.
Industrial Composting
Items that are industrially compostable (also known as commercially compostable) will not break down in your compost at home or in a landfill due to the specific temperatures, oxygen levels and equipment needed to break down the materials and compost them properly.
Industrial composting is a heavily controlled process that converts organic waste into products that can be used in agriculture, and unsurprisingly, most compostable packaging available in the UK will only decompose in industrial composting plants.
So, what can we do to take more care when disposing of waste and limiting our use of industrially compostable products?
The Solution
Unfortunately, if an item is marketed as compostable yet won’t break down at home, it’s about as good as plastic! And in the UK, the number of industrial composting sites is limited, so it's best to choose residentially compostable items where possible.
So, when buying items labelled as "compostable", first double-check with the retailer to confirm if you can residentially compost the product at home, or if it needs to be sent to an industrial processor.
When shopping around, keep an eye out for composting certifications that will tell you whether the item in question is industrially or residentially compostable. And remember, a product that's simply labelled as 'compostable' doesn't specifiy how it can be composted - so make sure to do your research first to be safe!
I hope you've found this guide helpful on your quest to reduce waste! I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic, so come on over to the @all.things.greenn Instagram to join the conversation and follow for more practical tips on living an imperfect sustainable lifestyle.
Want more tips on reducing waste? Check out our latest blog post for 3 simple steps to reducing your food waste.
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Thanks for reading, and happy composting!
Naomi 💚
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