Biodegradable specifications

Our biofilm bags are made from corn / potato starch and are fully biodegradable and compostable, breaking down to CO2 and H2O. The corn / potato starch these bags are made from is derived from an annually renewable crop, as opposed to fossil fuel derived oil based plastics which are non renewable. Thereby offering a greener alternative to polypropylene etc.

The shelf life of biofilm at room temperature, kept away from humidity and direct sunlight should run to years. In normal UK household conditions they are quite stable - they may well take years to start degrading. (Our supplier has kept some of the first batch they made from about four + years ago and they are still OK. Until they start to degrade we don't have a definitive time scale.) The main thing to avoid is exposure to humidity - avoid excessive heat, moisture and light to maximise shelf life otherwise they will start to degrade. If a bag is splashed with water they don't start to degrade immediately. If wiped off straight away they should come to no harm - the film spec states that it takes approx 45 days them to decompose at a constant 58°C similar to that found in industrial composting. Home composting will be at a lower temperature and will take longer. On the down side, biodegradable bags are a bit more expensive than polypropylene bags but at a far lower cost to the environment.

Biodegradable and compostable bag disposal 

Compost Heap: This is what they are designed for so the best option.

Council Garden waste bin: This would work as well but you would need to check with your council to ensure that that this waste is going for industrial composting. (Also you could end up 'in trouble' with the council for putting what they could view to be the wrong waste in the bin.)

Food Waste Bin: This would also be suitable but once again you might be best to check what the council is doing with this waste. (The bags are suitable for anaerobic digestion or industrial composting, if they will allow you to put them in).

General Waste Bin: Although possibly not viewed as the perfect option, in landfill they will break down to CO2 and water in much the same way as they would in a compost heap.

Recycled Paper and Card Bin: They should not go in with paper for recycling.

Recycled Plastic Bag Collections: They should not go in this bin either. Biodegradable and compostable film is made from renewable plant materials, not petrochemicals. It is designed to break down to CO2 and H2O so leaves nothing suitable for recycling unlike traditional plastic bottles etc.

I do hope that this will enable you to choose your best option environmentally for disposal of the biodegradable bags.




Source: Eco-Craft.co.uk