The use of compostable items like compostable plates, cups, bowls, utensils, cup lids, and various other products is on the rise. More and more restaurants and other businesses in the food industry are beginning to turn to compostable items due to their environmentally friendly properties. No matter what type of food business you run, using compostable items certainly has its benefits for both the environment as well as your business.
Part of what makes compostable plates and other products so advantageous is that they are supposed to break down in a short period of time. However, just how long does decomposition of compostable plates take? How long the decomposition of compostable plates takes is a question that many people might ask, and several factors influence what the answer is.
Generally, if a compostable plate is placed in a commercial compost facility, it will take less than 180 days to completely decompose. However, it can take as little as 45 to 60 days, depending upon the unique make and style of the compostable plate. The type of material that the plate is made of can affect how quickly it will decompose. Compostable plates are all made of natural resources, but those resources can differ. For instance, some compostable plates may be constructed of corn, some may be made from cellulose, others might be made from bamboo, and so on. Therefore, the type of agricultural crop that the plate is made from can greatly affect how long the decomposition process of the plate will take. Regardless of the material the plate is made from, generally, it should be decomposed within 180 days or less if it is placed in the appropriate type of facility.
If a compostable plate is placed in a backyard compost pile, you can expect the decomposition process to take much longer. Commercial compost facilities have all the appropriate elements to cause compostable products to decompose much quicker than a homemade backyard compost pile. This is because commercial compost facilities have been BPI certified, which means that they have met the scientifically based standards to ensure that they are the appropriate environment for composting compostable products.
It is important that compostable products are placed in compost facilities. They will not break down properly in landfills because they are specifically designed to be broken down under the appropriate conditions in a compost facility. In order for successful decomposition of a compostable product to occur, all the appropriate elements must be present under the right conditions. Some of the elements required for successful decomposition of compostable elements include microorganisms, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and water. This is not to necessarily say that compostable products won’t eventually break down in a landfill, but the process might take much longer, and it might not occur properly.
Businesses that want to support the Green movement and gain a good reputation might want to consider switching to compostable products. Compostable products help reduce the amount of pollution on the planet when they are placed in the appropriate type of compost facility.