It is even made sometimes from algae and seaweed! Secret #2: Biodegradables are the “Wild West” of trash bags. It is made from organic, renewable sources, such as vegetable oils, corn starch and grains. Bioplastic is a biobased plastic that comes from renewable biomass, meaning plants. You might see this plastic labeled as photodegradable or oxo- degradable. These are the dirty holdouts of the plastic world - the ones that will be around for generations.īiodegradable plastic is also made from petrochemicals BUT is manufactured differently so that it can begin to break down more quickly in the presence of air and sunshine. Without boring you with the science that fascinates us - basically, the long polymer chains in traditional plastics like polyethylene are so resilient and resistant to breakdown that they can last for hundreds of years. “Regular” trash bags are made from a synthetic material created from petrochemicals. To best define what “ biodegradable ” means in the trash bag world, comparisons can help to better understand what it is and what it is not. Secret #1: The term “ biodegradable ” (and sister terms) is often misunderstood. There are still some “secrets” surrounding the world of biodegradable trash bags. But like all new technologies, a great deal of information has been misunderstood. It has also driven innovation: biodegradable plastic bags have been inspired by the need for environmental change. that year was 3.1 million tons, giving a recycling rate of just 8.7 percent.īeing so aware of this conflict is what drives our commitment to finding greener ways of dealing with trash, especially when it comes to the production and disposal of plastic bags. However, the volume of plastic waste recycled in the U.S. in 2018, totaling some 35.7 million tons. Plastics accounted for 12 percent of the 292 million tons of municipal solid waste generated in the U.S. We also recognize improperly discarded plastic is one of the most urgent problems facing the environment today. However, today we are better educated about the negative impact it can have on the environment. A great deal of it has brought powerful, important changes. It has touched almost every facet of our lives from the way we drink, live, eat, care for our sick, package items, carry our belongings, etc. The Truth About Biodegradable Trash Bags … and the Compostable Alternative
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