A few states are pioneering the rise of compostable packaging and building a composting infrastructure. World Centric‘s Resource Recovery Managers Erin Levine and Elly Ventura share the lessons the compostable packaging leader is learning as California, Colorado, and other states introduce composting and extended producer responsibility programs for fiber and plastic packaging.
Making packaging sustainable — whether it can be recycled conveniently or composted to return the material to nature without pollutants — is essential to reducing the 292 million tons of solid waste created annually in the U.S. as of 2018. Only 32% of that waste was recycled or composted. World Centric has stopped using PFAS, the controversial “forever chemicals” that make compost that includes food service items unusable in agriculture. The company is experimenting with new bio-based compostable plastics for use in cups and as liners in fiber bowls and takeout packaging.
Composting progress is a patchwork — while there are about 4,000 composting sites in the U.S., only about 10% of those programs offer industrial composting of packaging. California continues to expand its composting capacity after passing S.B. 1383, which calls for curbside pickup of food waste and compostable packaging across the state. On the other hand, Colorado recently proposed limiting composting to food waste — compostable packaging might not be processed in the state.
Packaging makers can help by designing products for recyclability and compostability and labeling products to help customers find responsible ways to dispose of them. Erin and Elly explain that standardizing labeling, especially by clearly indicating what materials require the higher temperatures achieved in industrial composting, will help consumers make better decisions when shopping. You can learn more about World Centric at worldcentric.com.
Majimbo machache ni waanzilishi wa kuongezeka kwa ufungaji wa compostable na kujenga miundombinu ya composting. Wasimamizi wa Uokoaji wa Rasilimali wa WorldCentric, Erin Levine na Elly Ventura, wanashiriki masomo ambayo kiongozi wa ufungaji wa compostable anajifunza kama California, Colorado, na majimbo mengine yanaanzisha programu za uundaji wa mbolea na uwajibikaji wa mtayarishaji wa nyuzi na plastiki. Utaratibu wa kuhifadhi na kuhifadhi, kama vile kuhifadhi na kuhifadhi, ni muhimu kwa kupunguza takriban tani milioni 292 za taka za kiini zinazozalishwa kila mwaka nchini Marekani. Ni asilimia 32 tu ya taka hizo zilizotumiwa kwa njia ya kuchakata au kutengeneza mbolea. Kampuni ya WorldCentric imeacha kutumia PFAS, kemikali zenye utata ambazo hufanya mbolea ambayo inajumuisha bidhaa za huduma za chakula zisizoweza kutumika katika kilimo. Kampuni hiyo inajaribu plastiki mpya inayoweza kutengenezwa kwa bio kwa ajili ya matumizi katika vikombe na kama vifuniko katika vikombe vya nyuzi na ufungaji wa kuchukua. Utaratibu wa kutengeneza mbolea ni wa kawaida, na kwa sasa kuna maeneo ya kuandaa mbolea 4,000 nchini Marekani, lakini ni asilimia 10 tu ya programu hizo zinazotoa mbolea za viwanda. California inaendelea kupanua uwezo wake wa kutengeneza mbolea baada ya kupitisha S.B. 1383 - Mkataba wa kuondoa taka za chakula na vifurushi vinavyoweza kuyeyushwa katika jimbo lote. Kwa upande mwingine, Colorado hivi karibuni ilipendekeza kupunguza compostage kwa taka ya chakula <unk> ufungaji compostable inaweza kuwa si kusindika katika hali. Watengenezaji wa vifurushi wanaweza kusaidia kwa kubuni bidhaa kwa ajili ya recyclability na compostability na bidhaa za lebo kusaidia wateja kupata njia ya uwajibikaji ya kuondoa yao. "Erin na Elly wanaeleza kwamba ""kuweka alama za kawaida, hasa kwa kuonyesha wazi ni vifaa gani vinavyohitaji joto la juu linalopatikana katika uundaji wa viwanda, vitawasaidia watumiaji kufanya maamuzi bora wakati wa ununuzi.""" Unaweza kujifunza zaidi kuhusu World Centric katika worldcentric.com.