Waste Disposal and You
Photo by Eva Bronzini
Throughout the years, Pick It Up has continued encouraging everyone to pick up litter they see in their everyday environments. This regular ritual is imperative to creating a cleaner, healthier world. However, the work cannot end here: safe disposal is the next step, and just as important. Below I will clarify the three main terms you will see when deciding how to discard the litter you pick up, and waste in general.
Recyclable: The most common term, recyclable waste goes in the blue bin. Recycled materials are shipped to centers that collect, sort, and process waste to convert them into new products. This procedure is vital because it reduces the amount of waste in landfills and maintains a certain degree of sustainability within the waste system. Common recycled materials include paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and metal. See here for my post that explains the material-specific parameters and unacceptable items.
Compostable: Composting is the natural breakdown of organic matter over time. This process speeds up decomposition by creating an optimal environment for fungi and bacteria to work. The resulting compost is a nutrient-rich soil that can be used for fertilizer. Common composted materials are food scraps, coffee grounds, leaves, eggshells, etc. Comprehensive lists are published (ex. EPA) that spell out what materials can and can't be composted. According to an EPA statistic, food and garden scraps make up over 28% of what we throw away. This considerable number has a significant effect on landfill emissions during processing. Other benefits of composting include reduced water waste, diminished soil erosion, and lessened food waste as consumers learn to buy sustainably. The main kind of composting is called "Active" (or "Hot"), which is what takes place at industrial composting facilities. Active transport is a faster and more managed process. Here, material is surveyed to maintain optimal carbon-nitrogen and air-water ratios. This approach can help kill off any destructive substances such as bug larvae or herbicides. Plenty of tutorials can be found online on managing compost bins, one of which I have linked below.
Biodegradable: In terms of waste disposal or degradation, the term biodegradable is often conflated with that of compostable. Biodegradable simply refers to a substance that is physically able to be broken down by microorganisms like bacteria. The act of biodegrading simply lets nature take its course, requiring minimal energy inputs and long periods of time. This process is also known as "cold" because there isn't an input of heat hot enough to kill off all potentially harmful pathogens or toxic elements. The main difference here is the amount of time it takes to biodegrade. In this way, almost everything could be biodegradable, it would just take hundreds of thousands of years for some materials. This vague nature of the word is why it has been banned in California to market products as "biodegradable". In short, everything that is compostable is biodegradable, yet not everything that is biodegradable is compostable.
What does this mean for you? With all these conflations and greenwashing that goes on in modern marketing, it is more important than ever to double-check for trustworthy labels and certifications that guarantee compostability. The two main certifications in the U.S. are the USDA and BPI, usually assuring the product breaks down in less than 180 days. Next time you're shopping, you can look for these labels to make a more sustainable choice. In addition, you can use this newly clarified terminology to sort through what litter you find when out with your Pick It Up bag. Remember, the job isn't done until the waste is properly discarded!
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