What is recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable all at once? Literally nothing!
The true meanings of these three words are often misunderstood and they are all labeled as being eco-friendly alternatives that are equivalent to each other. In reality, each has its own pros and cons. Understanding the requirements for each category is important to make sure these processes are used for the correct items. In fact, mistakenly recycling or composting something that is not meant to be broken down in that way is actually worse than just sending it straight to a landfill because instead it can disrupt the entire facility and lead to contamination of products that otherwise would have been properly recycled or composted.
Recycling is the most commonly talked about process out of the three. However, it is also the least sustainable. Unfortunately, recycling is taught to be the end-all solution to the climate crisis which leads people to rely heavily on it without thinking of the consequences. In my article “Why I hate recycling,” I explain how the process of recycling a bottle requires staffing to collect and sort the bottles, energy to melt them down, and machines to reform them into something new. This does total up to be less resource intensive than creating a new bottle, but nevertheless, it still uses resources that could have been conserved by using a reusable bottle. The same goes for paper, glass, and practically anything else that we mindlessly throw into those green or blue bins.
Biodegradable is a vague term that gets too much credit. It is often assumed that anything biodegradable is environmentally friendly and doesn’t leave any waste behind at the end of its life. In reality, the term simply means that it can break down into smaller pieces. There are no requirements as to how fast the breakdown must occur or what environment must be present in order for the process to take place. Therefore, something that is labeled as biodegradable might take thousands of years to break down, which is not something to celebrate. All compostable materials are biodegradable, but not all biodegradable materials are compostable. Sometimes products will be labeled as both biodegradable and compostable, which means they are completely safe to compost and will break down to create a natural product rather than simply becoming somewhat smaller pieces.
Lastly is composting, the least understood, but most impactful option. Composting is generally divided into home and industrial levels. Industrial composting requires incredibly particular conditions which are often unnatural and need to take place in a facility. This type of composting is not as accessible since it requires the consumer to locate an industrial composting facility, company, or drop off location. Things labeled for industrial composting should not be placed in a home compost because they will not break down. Purchasing industrial compostable items and throwing them in the trash to be sent to the landfill will not result in any less waste being produced than purchasing an item that is not compostable at all since it won’t break down in the landfill. Home composting is another option and it requires very little. Home compost options vary from a hole in the ground to complex systems which require special worms and careful care. My article “I keep rotten fruit in my cabinet” further explains composting and the way that I participate as a college student living in a dorm.
Overall, it is ideal to avoid unnecessary purchases in order to not create any sort of waste from products at the end of their lives. When something is necessary, purchasing reusable or refillable items is preferred since there is no packaging being disposed of. Compostable is the next best option since it doesn’t use as much energy as recycling and results in useful soil as a final product. Products that heavily emphasize the fact that they are biodegradable or recyclable are often a sign of greenwashing, which means that the company is misleading consumers about its environmental efforts. Although it is impossible to be the perfect consumer, making the effort to recycle and compost properly can make a big difference!
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