Compostable plates are an eco-friendly alternative to single-use plastic or plastic-lined paper plates. Compostable plates are made from organic materials and come in handy at large events such as parties, picnics and barbecues where reusable ceramic plates are impractical. While compostable boards are still technically disposable, they break down rather than break down in landfills.
When a plate says “compostable,” it essentially means it can break down and be biodegraded or composted in an industrial composting facility. Composters can then sell the compost to plant nurseries or farms as a natural fertilizer to restore soil.
Compostable items are an ideal eco-friendly option for people living in areas that allow compostable items. Some compostable boards do not decompose in a regular home compost bin because they require exposure to extremely high temperatures. How they are made determines what you do with them.
There is no single material that is labeled as “compostable.” Compostable boards are made from a variety of materials, each with their own pros and cons when it comes to aesthetics, durability, and overall environmental friendliness.
Bagasse is a natural material extracted from sugar cane. The manufacturer converts it into compostable paper products with minimal processing. If there are no companies recycling pulp and turning it into useful products, it will end up in landfills.
Bagasse is the fibrous residue left after sugarcane stalks are crushed and the juice is removed. Typically, pulp enters a composting facility as wet pulp, which is then compressed and processed into dry pulp sheets. The pulpboard goes into a forming machine where it is shaped into cardboard. Some manufacturers take the extra step of mixing the pulp with a water and oil repellent to make the material more durable.
Bamboo plants are vigorous, grow quickly and do not require pesticides or irrigation, making them an easy source of renewable materials. Manufacturers who use bamboo plants to create compostable products can harvest the materials they need without actually harming the bamboo plants themselves.
Bamboo products are often made from the protective outer layer of the bamboo stem, called the husk. The husk falls off naturally as the bamboo grows. After the plants mature and shed their shells, the material is collected, cleaned and boiled, and then laminated into sheets of varying thicknesses. Manufacturers press and glue the sheathing into the desired shape—no chemicals required.
Palm leaf products are not only environmentally friendly, but also support local workers in the tropical regions where these trees grow.
Once palm leaves fall naturally, local residents collect them for recycling. This sustainable harvesting process does not physically harm the trees or contribute to deforestation.
The leaves are sterilized, dried, ground into a pulp, and then turned into a thin, durable fiberboard. Craftsmen use high-temperature molds to shape fiberboard into compostable plates and bowls, each sheet of which is used to create a variety of items. Palm leaf plates are completely compostable as they do not require any chemicals or glue.
Starches from various vegetables, especially corn and potatoes, can be used to create compostable bioplastics. These plastics are completely non-toxic and, when composted in industrial plants, break down again into carbon dioxide, water and biomass.
Unlike traditional plastics, bioplastics are not produced from petrochemicals, meaning the material is not a byproduct of the fossil fuel industry. However, producing bioplastics requires energy, so there may still be greenhouse gas emissions associated with their production unless bioplastics plants run entirely on clean energy.
Although grease and food scraps can cause serious problems in recycling, they are not a problem in the composting process. If you use compostable plates, don’t worry about scraping off your dinner scraps before composting.
How to dispose of compostable boards depends on what they are made of. Compostable plastics made from plant starch only fully decompose when exposed to extremely high temperatures, so it’s best to send them to an industrial composting facility. If they are not available where you live, you will have to throw them in the trash. That’s why it’s important to consider the compost resources in your community before purchasing compost.
You can use compost boards made from bagasse, bamboo and palm leaves in your backyard compost pile. Since these products are dry, brown compost, make sure there is enough green material in the compost to provide moisture. Consider cutting them into smaller pieces first to speed up the decomposition process. If you don’t have your own backyard compost pile, you can also send the materials to a commercial composter.
Compostable products are not recyclable, so don’t throw them in your curbside recycling bin. If you can’t compost them, throw them away. Organic materials in compostable products can damage processing equipment, so most recyclers do not accept them.
Organic waste ending up in landfills produces and releases methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Paper plates without a plastic coating on top are compostable. The packaging will usually indicate whether the plates are compostable or have a plastic coating.
Compostable sheets decompose in approximately 180 days in a commercial composting facility. There is more variability in a backyard composting system and may take several years to complete.
Biodegradable materials are materials that can break down through natural processes and return their elements to nature. Compostable materials also return their elements to nature, but their elements are organic matter, which, as they decompose, actively saturate the environment with nutrients.
Whether compostable boards are better than recycled boards depends on the compost resources in your area. Composting is a more environmentally friendly option if you have access to industrial composting equipment. Otherwise, your compostable boards could end up in a landfill, so recyclables are more environmentally friendly.
Many materials used in compostable panels can only be composted in industrial composting facilities, which require energy to transport and produce greenhouse gases.
Choosing reusable products to completely reduce waste is always a greener choice. Use reusable ceramic plates or plates made from stone, recycled glass or stainless steel. If you’re shopping for plates, consider saving on plates you’ve had before instead of buying new ones.
Post time: Sep-30-2023