Exposing Composting Myths (Marketplace video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iywG7SU_C6M The gross overuse and misuse of single use plastic (essentially any plastic, as far as I'm concerned) needs to stop. Grocery stores are one place that brings the issue into focus- try shopping plastic free... it's possible, but it can feel limiting if you're not prepared. Compostable plastics, while only slightly better, are not the answer to the problem. Stay tuned for the end with the classroom exercise- ouch!

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Bottles that compost in 27 days

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzHxYVRlS8g While I have my guard up slightly, I'm really hoping this bottle fully composts. On its surface, it appears to do so... I'd like to obtain one of these and compost it in the backyard. How hot would the pile need to be, or will this break down like anything else? So far, composting bioplastics has been a bust for backyard composters, but maybe this is the ticket.

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The Myth of Biodegradability (article)

http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/the-myth-of-biodegradability/?ref=compost&_r=0 Over the past quarter century the idea of green business has expanded from a fringe group of hippie capitalists trying to increase environmental consciousness to mainstream corporations trying to establish a global standard for sustainable business. Today, most major companies have social responsibility departments, and moving to greener practices is a priority. Frankly, it’s one of the reasons my business, TerraCycle, is flourishing. This new landscape is encouraging but full of challenges and pitfalls. A great example is the almost blind embrace of all things “biodegradable.” I used quotation marks around the term because there is disagreement as to what it means. And the debate about whether businesses should embrace biodegradable plastic — P.L.A., or polylactic acid — for use, say, as packaging or in utensils, is an important…

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