In last week's edition of The Bamboo Press, we introduced and described Industrial Composting. We detailed three different Industrial Composting methods and outlined how Industrial Composting businesses collect organic waste from households.
Industrial Composting schemes provide a sustainable alternative to landfilling household organic waste. In addition, Industrial Composting can produce potentially potent fertilizer, which could serve as a replacement for petrochemical-made fertilizer. The ideal situation is this: after consuming crops grown in industrial-compost-fertilized soil, people can place unconsumed crop parts into their pick-up bins, supporting a circular system for crop growth.
Industrial Composting is advantageous for people living in highly concentrated urban areas, where they don't have backyard space to make their own home and garden compost piles.
While Industrial Composting is overwhelmingly positive, it has drawbacks. Aside from collection-truck emissions, there are a couple significant caveats that come with Industrial Composting.
The major problem with Industrial Composting is not the process itself but the inputs. Ultimately, not all inputs are created equal. For example, some organic waste, like orange and banana peels, grass clippings, and vegetable scraps, are highly compostable inputs. However, Industrial Composting subscribers should never put raw meat into their collection bins; home and garden composters shouldn't use raw meat, either. Raw meat will eventually spoil. Spoiled meat will most likely contain soil-damaging bacteria like E. Coli.
Also, some organic waste, like wood and bones, decomposes more slowly than others. While home and garden composters usually put wood and bones into their backyard piles, many Industrial Composting schemes do not allow wood and bones to be collected. This is because industrial composters must produce compost with a quick turnaround time.
A notable non-compostable, non-biodegradable material exists. Unfortunately, many people mistakenly think this material is biodegradable and compostable. What is this material? Pesky old PLA. What is PLA, and why is it not biodegradable?
PLA, a "bioplastic" is made from synthesized soybeans, corn, or sugarcane. PLA-made products only biodegrade when processors place them in specialized-industrial ovens, which melts the PLA down to a sticky goo. The point is that PLA straws, food boxes, lids, and trays cannot be recycled like normal plastics. If users toss PLA products into a compost pile, they won't decompose—until after 500 years pass. The other problem is that, within the US, very few PLA recycling plants exist. For example, www.enfrecycling.com, a massive and reliable recycler database, does not indicate any PLA factories within the US.
What's an excellent alternative to PLA? Products made from Lastic Bamboo Resin! We make straws and utensils from 100% biodegradable and certified home and garden compostable resin. While Lastic products are strong enough for reuse, they will dissolve into either home and garden or industrial compost piles in just a few months. Please send us a message for more information about his game-changing raw material!
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