Be carefull with this info, much depends on the factory. In the Netherlands we separate plastic and much cannot be recycled but new techniques and factories are being developed as a results of the constant stream of (at the moment!) worthless plastics. [0]
> Be carefull with this info, much depends on the factory.
Indeed, recently we were looking into getting bio-degradable / compostable cups for an event, however:
* you need "industrial" (high-temperature) composting, your garden's compost pile is not going to work (it will probably degrade over time but very slowly)
* the average collection center can't easily differentiate between bio-degradable and regular plastic (you have to check each cup individually) so they just reject everything
The bio-degradable items won't degrade at the expected rate, as you say it's an industrial composting facility that's needed, but they _will_ degrade far, far, more readily and won't leave the environment strewn with microplastics. That's what we seek.
I've tested composting a couple of compostable nappies (aka diapers) in my under-used, low temperature, domestic compost bin. After about 3 years we emptied it out and there was no sign of the nappies at all.
If an animal eats the corn-starch (or whatever compostable type it is) cup then it's not going to be especially harmful to them. Moreover, it appears from what I've seen that the compostable materials will not retain mechanical integrity after a small time of exposure to weather, this is good too.
It's not all sunbeams though, we had a fairtrade chocolate bar for sale in our store that was wrapped entirely in compostable wrapping (with vegetable dye printing, etc.), the compostable "cellophane" wrap was incredible. Completely transparent, flexible, shiny. But [I believe] the humidity was too high and the wrap grew sticky before the shelf life of the chocolate [<1y] had come.
It mightn't be perfect but it's a good way better.
I concur, everything on that list is recycled curbside in my city, Paris [0].
Those rules can evolve very fast, and unfortunately the communication is lacking. A lot of people still use the rules of several years ago, not recycling things that are now accepted.
There is also an issue on products labels: a lot of them will say something isn't recyclable, while it can be in some cities. Only the most dedicated consumers will be able to correctly understand what they should do.
Indeed, and I feel that way to contribute is to just add all your plastics to the recycle bin, hoping that even the most difficult types will reach a threshold amount that will trigger research into their recycle-ability, or at least into better separation techniques. Please show me I'm wrong if I am.
It makes recycling more costly, as the recycling factory have to spend more time sorting it, or just refuse recyclable garbage because it's mixed with non-recyclable and sorting is too costly.
Well, as I don't have spectroscopic eyes to identify the nature of the polymers I have in my hand as I make a choice between bins. And the fact that plastic is a rather broad term combined with the vague communication, I'm going to keep doing this as do many others. So I just hope innovators will find ways to separate better.
I use to do this but it's actually contributing to the problem of wish cycling and why other countries have begun refusing to buy our recycling due to impurities from sorting. Just Google your city name + recycling rules and you'll be able to contribute without being the problem.
Polyethylene is rather inert, but our ability to further utilize it beyond a single use is imperative. I grew up with paper grocery bags and glass bottled soda, and plastic was seen as the "green" solution at that time.
Indeed, recently we were looking into getting bio-degradable / compostable cups for an event, however:
* you need "industrial" (high-temperature) composting, your garden's compost pile is not going to work (it will probably degrade over time but very slowly)
* the average collection center can't easily differentiate between bio-degradable and regular plastic (you have to check each cup individually) so they just reject everything