“Compostable,” “made from plants,” “biodegradable,” “plant-based” and “bio-” plastic — surely all of these mean the same thing, right? That we can chuck that coffee cup, that plastic spoon, and our green plastic bags in the compost pile and they’ll naturally biodegrade there?
High levels of waste production have spurred a resurgence of composting in the DMV area. Expansion of food-scrap collection locations in Fairfax County, and the rising popularity of curbside collection programs (such as Compost Crew—which recently signed a contract to pilot curbside residential compost collection in Alexandria City), have given even more residents options to divert some of their waste, without having to compost at-home. Yet as composting becomes more popular, concerns of contamination and wishful composting—not unlike wishcycling—are bound to arise. Chiefly, as more consumers, businesses, and municipalities look to make changes in their purchases and perhaps lessen their reliance on pesky and highly-polluted single-use plastic, they may turn to the shiny new thing being pushed by the plastics manufacturing industry: bioplastics [aka: any of the synonyms listed above].
This is a good thing right? Bio-plastic sounds so clean and green! And the marketing behind many of these products does a fantastic job reinforcing these impressions. Yet, just because a plastic item was “made from plants,” does not mean it wasn’t also made in-part from or using fossil fuels. In fact:
Plant-based plastic is a type of bioplastic that is created from agricultural scraps, often from corn, sugarcane, wheat or food waste. The term ‘plant-based’ refers to the source of the material itself, not how the resulting plastic will behave after it’s been thrown away.
But, there’s a catch! Only 20% of the ingredients need to be from renewable, organic materials in order for a plastic to be labelled ‘plant-based’. This means the resulting plastic could still be non-biodegradable and be made from up to 80% fossil fuels!
Compostable plastic alternatives (and confusion) on the rise
Walmart just announced that it plans to offer an alternative to single-use plastics with the launch of a Great Value (their store brand) commercially compostable cutlery product line. Similarly, the spirit-maker Bacardi is introducing biodegradable bottles for its products, and Mars-Wrigley will debut Skittles with biodegradable wrappers in the U.S. this year (Vaughan, 2023). Around the globe, bioplastic straws, bags, wrappers, packaging, and other substitutes for plastic items are flooding the market, promising a way to make single-use use more sustainable.
Yet, there is an important caveat to these products that appear to be biodegradable, and even claim to be compostable. Oftentimes, these items must be composted in a commercial facility—i.e., they cannot just go on the food scrap pile in the backyard, or worse, chucked on the ground.
A survey from BPI and Closed Loop Partners’ Composting Consortium found that consumers often struggle with the “compostable” and “biodegradable” messaging on packaging. Confusing, misleading, and differentiated messaging are all significant hurdles in successful, large-scale consumer and commercial composting.
Some highlights from the study include:
49% of respondents had trouble distinguishing between the terms “biodegradable” and “compostable”; up to 50% of respondents thought they could compost packaging labeled “made from plants”; and nearly one-third of respondents said they would incorrectly put compostable packaging in a recycling bin.
Labeling and design impact how consumers dispose of packaging…Improper end-of-life disposal can result in compostable products ending up in recycling streams or landfills instead of being processed as organics. It can also result in organics contamination, a costly issue that can result in commercial processors rejecting entire loads of organic material.
Consumers frequently do not understand the differences in materials that can be composted in commercial programs as opposed to at-home systems. Plus, “compostable” products are “biodegradable,” but the inverse is not always true; biodegradable is a broader term that means materials will break down but not necessarily at the speed needed for successful composting.
Consumers often are confused about “biodegradable” and “compostable,” according to the report “Unpacking Labeling and Design: U.S. Consumer Perception of Compostable Packaging.”
Pyzyk, K. (2023, July 11). Consumers don’t understand ‘compostable’ messaging on packaging, survey finds. Industry Dive. packagingdive.com.
The study concluded with recommendations that increased clarity and education needs to accompany production of these products. Specifically, they hope that manufacturers and policymakers will promote labeling consistency and standardization to help reduce contamination in recycling and organics collection streams. As a consumer, be sure to look for items with the BPI certified-compostable label on them!
Looking local
A current example of this compostable confusion in Fairfax County can be found at local Farmers Markets and the produce/meat sections of some grocery store chains. Here, we’re finding plastic bags (often tinted green) with claims of compostability printed on them. These products represent a well-intended alternative to the single-use plastic “t-shirt” bags, yet there is not always clarity on how and where to dispose of the bags. Be sure to read the fine print here! Again, these items must often be composted at an industrial/commercial facility, or can only be “recycled” at grocery store collections. So, if you find yourselves with these “green” bags, certainly dispose of them properly in your curbside compost collection, bring them back to the food scrap/compost collection tents at the Farmers Markets, or take them directly to the I-95 Landfill Complex or the I-66 Transfer Station compost area!
Are you worried this spring? While some people are worried about cicadas taking over their gardens, others are excited for top water fishing to start in order to take advantage of the situation. Cicadas can wreak havoc on lawns, trees, and shrubs, but you can plan ahead for how to deal with them in a positive way! From covering younger plants, to mowing at the correct time, to not using pesticides, there are many options to protect your garden from cicadas this year. Check out this article for more tips to be prepared and this article for more background cicadas and their incredible life cycle. If you’re more an angler than a gardener, happy fishing and no worries for you!
Holy Hydrogels!
Hydrogel bead from local, Fairfax County stream. Photo credit: Emily Foppe
Have you ever noticed greenish colored beads in your plants or potting soil after bringing them home from the store? We recently found many of them in local Fairfax County streams. These beads are synthetic hydrogels that help plants retain moisture and fertilize plants, however, they are easily washed out of gardens and into local waterways. Do these beads degrade over time and do they cause problems in local streams? The short answer to both is yes, but take a read to see for yourself more information on these soil beads. This article is from 2016, but we still see these beads in the environment today.
Mission: Cool Composting
Domingo Morales, winner of the inaugural David Prize and its $200,000 grant, is a grassroots organizer who changes waste into community wealth. Domingo helps communities debunk myths about composting and provides funding that is independent from municipal governments. His goal: to widen the scope of composting in communities, especially underprivileged ones. When Domingo engages in community outreach, he teaches youth about the process and how he started his own successful business doing something good for the earth. Read more here!
Hydrogel beads in local, Fairfax County stream. Photo credit: Emily Foppe
Clean your plate: children in India/Africa are starving! Many of us heard this injunction growing up. Insufficient food is a huge problem in many countries, but even here in Fairfax County 44,000 residents receive help from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) because they are unable on their own to get enough food to eat.
Some individuals, grocery stores, restaurants, etc. try to close the loop and donate “extra” food to those in need, but Sustainable America estimates that 40% of food in the United States is wasted. For more information on eating out without wasting food: http://www.sustainableamerica.org/blog/eating-out-without-wasting-food/
Leftover food that cannot be used by others is an environmental opportunity. This past spring, Fairfax County’s Solid Waste Management Program announced its launch of a pilot composting program “to encourage the growth of local companies that collect food waste (also called organic waste) from homes, events, businesses, etc., and turn it into compost. The compost can then be used as a high-quality soil amendment in residential backyards, farms, and landscaping projects.”
What makes this type of large-scale composting appealing is that items that normally would not go in a smaller household composting operation such as bones and meat and paper products can be included.
To date, two composting companies, Compost Crew and Veterans, have registered with the program. The County has reviewed these companies’ equipment and operations, thus providing some assurance to potential customers that they are operating in a safe and sustainable way.
The Inside Scoop, a local food truck selling organic homemade ice cream and treats, made some eco-friendly changes after participating in Clean Fairfax’s SpringFest, an annual celebration of Earth Day that encourages sustainable practices.
According to owner Daniel Azar, “SpringFest’s requirements prompted me to look for alternatives that I used for that event. After that, it stuck, and I started phasing out as much plasticware as possible.” Daniel also noted, “There is a growing concern over how much non-compostable waste we are producing. All you have to do is google ‘landfills’ and you’ll be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of garbage that will never break down. There needs to be more laws in place (such as California’s required recycling), but also grassroots efforts to help raise awareness and make changes, without needing to wait for a federal mandate, because it’s just the right thing to do.”
Daniel found that depending on the item, it was either the same price as plastic or a little higher, but went on to say that the slight increase in cost should be a trivial concern to businesses, small and large, because “our environment, our ecosystem, is worthless if we can’t live in it.”
His recommendation to other businesses is to “not let the bottom line be more important than the overall health of both ourselves and all of our neighbors: Fourlegged, bipedal, winged or otherwise.”
EXAMPLES OF ECO-FRIENDLY PRACTICES USED AT THE INSIDE SCOOP:
Avoidance of single-use plastics (straws, packaging, utensils, dishes, containers, bags)
Phasing out of plastic dishes and spoons for paper and wooden ones.
Energy conservation
Turn off and unplug any appliance not currently in use.
Recycling
Recycle at every opportunity!
Local sources
Dairy, heavy cream, and several ingredients & toppings are
locally sourced from farmers markets right here in Fairfax County and from our nation’s
Dairy State: Pennsylvania.
Organics
Dairy, agave & heavy cream are Organic.
Fair-trade
The coffee in Espresso Chip ice cream is Fair Trade.
Composting
Wooden taster spoons, teaspoons & paper cups are all compostable.
Waste Prevention (e.g. donations of unsold product to needy)
Donated to 3 different homeless & needy shelters in the D.C Area.
Support this eco-friendly business and enjoy some yummy ice cream and treats:
July and August are definitely the best months to get to the Farmers Markets in this area. According to the Virginia Harvest Calendar http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pdf/producechart.pdf published by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services this is when most of the produce is being harvested, so you will find great abundance and variety at the Farmers Markets. Also, August 2-12 there will be special events to celebrate National Farmers Market Week. (see July 26 Facebook post @CleanFairfax)
Go eco-friendly:Bring plenty of reusable tote bags, reusable produce bags, and reusable containers. Clean Fairfax is encouraging Fairfax County residents to join the #plasticfreeproduce movement. Also, consider composting the remains of your fruits and vegetables.
Why support the Farmers Markets?
1. Freshness:
Fruits and vegetables are guaranteed fresh since they are local. You can talk directly to the farmer to find out about the produce you are purchasing.
Protect the Environment:
Food in the U.S. travels an average of 1,500 miles to get to your plate. All this shipping uses large amounts of natural resources (especially fossil fuels), contributes to pollution, and creates trash with extra packaging. Conventional agriculture also uses many more resources than sustainable agriculture and pollutes water, land, and air with toxic agricultural by-products. Food at the farmers market is transported shorter distances and is generally grown using methods that minimize the impact on the earth. (Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture)
Support Family Farmers:
Family farmers need your support, now that large agribusiness dominates food production in the U.S. Small family farms have a hard time competing in the food marketplace. Buying directly from farmers gives them a better return for their produce and gives them a fighting chance in today’s globalized economy. (Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture)
Promote Humane Treatment of AnimalsAt the farmers market, you can find meats, cheeses, and eggs from animals that have been raised hormone- and antibiotic-free. Also, they are often openly grazed and cage free rather than forced into cramped feedlots and cages.
Connect with Your Community
Farmers Markets offer a communal gathering place for neighbors.
National Farmers Market Week with cooking demonstrations, games, kids’ activities, raffles for gift baskets and more is running from Wednesday, August 2 to Saturday, August 12, 2017 at the Fairfax County Farmers Markets. Watch the promotional video (https://goo.gl/MHQGte) for additional information.
As we head towards Spring, this is an excellent time to consider composting: The warmer weather tends to break down organic materials more quickly, and you don’t need to brave the cold to get to an outdoor bin. Also, if you start now, you should end up with some excellent quality soil for your summer garden!
Why bother? Composting reduces the amount of garbage you create and therefore the amount of landfill space filled, or in the case of Fairfax County, the amount of ash waste produced by incineration. By not purchasing compost or fertilizer for your garden, composting not only saves you money, but it also saves fossil fuels since many commercial methods of producing compost and fertilizer use machinery that runs on oil/gas. Composting also saves your garbage disposal from overworking. And you are creating rich soil to add back to the earth!
What can be composted in a residential setting? Just about any non-meat food scraps or organic yard waste. Here are some exceptions from Eartheasy, Solutions for Sustainable Living: perennial weeds (they can be spread with the compost) or diseased plants; pet manures if you will use the compost on food crops; banana peels, peach peels and orange rinds since these may contain pesticide residue; and, black walnut leaves (leaves create a chemical toxic to many plants called juglone, and though it breaks down fairly quickly in compost, may not be work the risk).
How do you get the materials to compost? If you have an outdoor area available to you, there are several options. You can purchase a composting tumbler or a bin. Purchased composters will be accompanied by directions. If you build your own bin, or fence an area to be your compost pile, or just start a pile, you will need to stir it up periodically and keep it moist.
Rodale’s Organic Life suggests the following for starting a compost pile more scientifically:
Start by spreading a layer that is several inches thick of coarse, dry brown stuff, like straw or cornstalks or leaves, where you want to build the pile. 2. Top that with several inches of green stuff. Continue layering green stuff and brown stuff with a little soil mixed in until the pile is 3 feet high. For more info, go to www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/how-compost
Join us for the Grand Re-Opening of Mom’s Organic Market in Herndon, featuring local tastings, henna art and more.
Clean Fairfax is pleased to be in attendance at the grand re-opening of Mom’s Organic Market in Herndon, VA. There will be a Naked Lunch – an all organic eatery featuring soups, bowls and raw juices! Come by and do some grocery shopping, try the local tastings, henna art, and much more. 5% of Grand Re-Opening sales will be donated to Clean Fairfax.
If you would like to volunteer, please send an email to cfc@cleanfairfax.org. We could use a few extra pair of hands, and we have fun things planned throughout the day.
As hungry children stand in line each day for lunch, many school districts across the country are making an effort to serve food that was grown locally. When there was an increase of local food being served, the children ate more healthy meals and threw less food in the trash. Washington, D.C. school districts has been promoting this effort. Other schools across the U.S. are also following this route as well.
Do you love taking pictures, the environment, and wildlife? NVCT is holding a Second Annual Nearby Nature Photography Competition. Up to five photos can be submitted. The deadline is on midnight November 2, 2015. The winners will be announced in mid-November, and prizes will be from local businesses and organizations. Additionally, the winning photos will be included in the next edition of the Stewardship Connection, NVCT’s website, Facebook page, and other NVCT publications. More information can be found here.
Daan Roosegaarde, a Dutch artist and designer has created a stunning glowing bike bath. At night, it is illuminated by glowing pebbles and LEDs, which resembles Van Gogh’s famous Starry Night painting.
The path was created using glow-in-the-dark technology and solar-powered LEDs. The glowing path assists bicyclists stay on track when they ride on night. Similar beautiful environmental glowing paths are also in some parts of the U.K. This might be a new trend that catches on other parts of the world.
Funding Assistance for Conservation Work on Homeowner and Community Association Property
Have you ever thought about improving your community’s common lands by installing a rain garden to capture runoff, incorporating native meadow or tree and shrub species into your landscaping, or even installing porous pavers on a portion of your parking lot? Do you want to improve the energy efficiency of your community’s clubhouse or other shared building? These practices and more are now eligible for cost-share funding through the newly-launched Conservation Assistance Program (CAP).
Visit the CAP webpage on the Conservation District’s website to learn more about eligible practices, funding levels, and who can apply. Applications are due by March 11th, so don’t delay!
For other updates, please consider subscribing to NVSWCD’s monthly watershed calendar. Email conservationdistrict@fairfaxcounty.gov to subscribe.
Clean your plate: children in India/Africa are starving! Many of us heard this injunction growing up. Insufficient food is a huge problem in many countries, but even here in Fairfax County 44,000 residents receive help from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) because they are unable on their own to get enough food to eat.
gust are definitely the best months to get to the Farmers Markets in this area. According to the Virginia Harvest Calendar 
esidents to join the #plasticfreeproduce movement. Also, consider composting the remains of your fruits and vegetables.
As we head towards Spring, this is an excellent time to consider composting: The warmer weather tends to break down organic materials more quickly, and you don’t need to brave the cold to get to an outdoor bin. Also, if you start now, you should end up with some excellent quality soil for your summer garden!
ls to compost? If you have an outdoor area available to you, there are several options. You can purchase a composting tumbler or a bin. Purchased composters will be accompanied by directions. If you build your own bin, or fence an area to be your compost pile, or just start a pile, you will need to stir it up periodically and keep it moist.
