[USCC] How to deal with partially biodegradable waste?

[David Goldstein]

Lan,

You should warn customers NOT to put your product in curbside yardwaste collection carts or curbside recycling carts. 

A product label could look something like this:

"Warning: Contains cornstarch/plastic blend -- Please do not compost or recycle this item."

Perhaps you would want more explanation somewhere on the packaging. Maybe you could use something like this...

Minimum 20% cornstarch instead of plastic:
Our company uses cornstarch instead of plastic because we care about the environment and American energy independence. Cornstarch is a renewable resource, grown in America. However, cornstarch/plastic blends are neither bio-degradable nor recyclable, so please do not attempt to compost it and please do not add it to curbside recycling collection carts. Mixing it with compost or recyclables would contaminate loads, ruining other people's work for conservation, and defeating our attempts to care for our country and our planet.

Thanks for asking.


david.goldstein at ventura.org
Ventura County PWA, W&S Dept.,
IWMD
800 S. Victoria Ave. #1650  Ventura, CA 93009-1650
(805) 658-4312    www.wasteless.org


>>> "lan mond" <lan.mond at yahoo.com> 10/12/2007 8:07 AM >>>
Hi everyone,
   
  We are a dealer of bags and foodservice containers. Now we have some new products made from plastic and cornstarch(from 20% to 50%) mix. What should we suggest our customers deal with them after usage?
   
  Thanks a lot.


  Regards.
  Sincerely Yours,
   
  Lan Mond
  401 E.34th Street, S.21B 
New York, NY 10016 
Email: lan.mond at yahoo.com 
  Phone:      212-845-9500 
Facsimile: 212-697-1100
Join us at the US Composting Council's 16th Annual Conference & Trade Show
Oakland Marriott City Center, Oakland, CA | February 9-12, 2008.
The National forum for those involved in the development and expansion of the composting and organics recycling industry.
Conference Highlights, Registration forms, Exhibitor information and Sponsorship Opportunities available at the USCC website: www.compostingcouncil.org or call the USCC at 631.737.4931 
______________________________________________________________________________
Compost maillist - compost at mailman.cloudnet.com 
http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost 
_______________________________________
This list is a service provided by the US Composting Council (USCC).
(c) Copyright 2004 United States Composting Council - All rights reserved

Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the USCC, the Foundation, or the Board of Directors.

Non-members of USCC are encouraged to join the Council through its website at: http://www.compostingcouncil.org/membership.cfm 

Members posting CC copies to the list and other addresses may have their posting privileges suspended. For discussion list policies and information regarding subscribing, unsubscribing, digest or other options, go to: http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost 

For additional help in unsubcribing or to report bugs and problems, send a message to the List Manager at compostlistmanager at compostingcouncil.org