We found every kilogram of compost contains between 1,500 and 16,000 microplastic particles. In weight, this equates to between 7 and 760 milligrams of microplastics per kilogram of compost.
Many local councils provide residents with kitchen caddies and “compostable” plastic bags to collect food waste. These bags can also be bought from supermarkets.
These bags usually contain some plant-based substances. However, some contain fossil-fuel based material. Others may contain “bioplastics” such as that made from corn starch or sugarcane, which require very specific conditions to break down into their natural materials.
My council specifically states to not use biodegradable bags, which I’m guessing is because of point 3. But even then, I’m guessing they get a lot of contamination.
Yeah, undoubtedly they will. I’ve found its so hard to even get people and councils on the same page as to what we’re going to recycle on a simple milk carton, let alone the chemical differences in scrunchy single use bags.
Key parts that stood out to me,
My council specifically states to not use biodegradable bags, which I’m guessing is because of point 3. But even then, I’m guessing they get a lot of contamination.
Yeah, undoubtedly they will. I’ve found its so hard to even get people and councils on the same page as to what we’re going to recycle on a simple milk carton, let alone the chemical differences in scrunchy single use bags.