[USCC] How to deal with partially biodegradable waste?

[Tim Howard]

Seems like we should ask if the products are certified as biodegradable
or not.  Usually high cornstarch loading with certain types of plastics
is an attempt to make them biodegradable and thus they can be disposed
of as organics.  If they are not certified they should go into
non-recyclable waste.  

Tim Howard
Up North Plastics
9480 Jamaica Avenue 
Cottage Grove, MN 55406
Desk Phone: 651-734-6237
Direct Fax: 651-734-6537
Email: tim at upnplastics.com
Cell: 612-616-0759

-----Original Message-----
From: compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com
[mailto:compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com] On Behalf Of David
Goldstein
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 4:35 PM
To: uscc
Subject: Re: [USCC] How to deal with partially biodegradable waste?

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
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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
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options, go to: http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost

For additional help in unsubcribing or to report bugs and problems, send
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