Two years ago, my children and I decided to conduct a little experiment. That happens quite often here at 1840 Farm. In fact, it’s strongly encouraged. We started noticing a lot of compostable packaging on grocery store shelves and wondered just how quickly it would compost.
We buried a few bags, pouches, and cups that boasted their eco-friendliness in the bottom of one of our four compost bins. I had forgotten all about this experiment until I was harvesting compost for our new raised beds last weekend. As I used a shovel to remove the compost, I began to uncover the packaging one piece at a time.
While the materials were weakened and slightly worse for the wear, they were still intact. The food scraps and leaves that had been in the bin were transformed into beautiful compost. During the same period of time, the supposedly earth friendly and compostable packaging was unchanged.
Compostable? I think not. Something stinks here and it sure isn’t the compost.
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Silver Spring Farm
May 8, 2012 at 11:41 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
These things are only compostable in a hot pile. Most people cold compost. I know I do. Its really a cheezy gimmick on the part of the manufacturer.
Jennifer Burcke
May 9, 2012 at 10:49 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I agree. There’s more gimmick than reality there.
LindaG
May 9, 2012 at 8:16 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Wow. Thanks for the experiment. Certainly interesting.
Debbie Richards
June 13, 2012 at 10:20 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oh sure, it may be compostible in a hot pile, or whatever, for how long? Several (many?) years? But the real question is, what does it break down into? Tiny molecules of bad stuff is still bad stuff. Thanks for the experiment. Good stuff.
Jennifer Burcke
June 13, 2012 at 10:24 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I couldn’t agree more. To simply say that it is “compostable” packaging seems disingenuous. Home composters do not have a hot pile, but after multiple years it was shocking to see that it hadn’t even started to breakdown. Sometimes bad science is turned into good marketing!
cccquilter
June 19, 2012 at 1:22 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I solved that issue by not buying packaged goods. My motto is becoming: if it has a package, it is not real food. I am going for real food now, or trying mightily! We have reduced our packaged foods to a bare minimum.
Jennifer Burcke
June 19, 2012 at 9:32 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I agree. We do our best to eat as much fresh food and better yet, food produced on our property as possible. When we buy something in a package, we always choose a package that is recyclable or reusable if possible. Glad to hear that I have company on this one!
Composting made so easy that even a blogger can do it! | Exploring Winnipeg and Beyond.
May 17, 2012 at 10:28 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
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