The labels ‘compostable’ and ‘biodegradable’ are often mistakenly thought of as interchangeable. They are not! BEWARE! Here's what you need to know.
What's the composting process?
Bacteria digest compostable plastic items and turn it into compost.
What’s an example of a compostable plastic item?
Eg. A ‘compostable’ plastic bag. But it must meet certain requirements to earn it’s label. It can’t be toxic to worms, it must support plant life.
What can your council tell you?
Your council can advise whether to put compostables with your green waste. Most need high temperatures to break down, so check with your council before putting these into your compost waste stream.
What about home composts?
Some compostables can be home composted. But they will be labelled if so.
Can compostables be recycled?
NO! Don’t put them into recycling, they cannot be recycled the same way as non-biodegradable plastics.
Can biodegradable plastics be recycled?
Like compostables: they DO NOT mix with recyclables. They are usually not suitable for the compost pile and belong in the general waste bin. However, they will be labelled on the chance they can be composted.