The REA and ADBA have released a position paper offering advice on how to keep plastic out of digestates and composts. It is intended for local authorities, operators of AD and composting facilities, and stakeholders in the plastic packaging industry.
First and foremost, says the document, for those dealing with biowaste, the waste management hierarchy should be followed – and clearly the top priority is for food and drink retailers to minimise the use of unnecessary plastic packaging in their products. And where plastic is required, materials should be used that are compatible with the dry recyclates infrastructure.
And if the plastic packaging is intended to be compatible with composting or digestion (‘wet’ or ‘dry’) processes, with a phase of composting to follow, it should be certified by an independent body in accordance with standards such as EN 13432.
The guidance also clarifies the responsibilities of householders and businesses submitting organic waste for recycling, of which they ought to be made aware.
Plastics often appear in the waste delivered to composting and AD facilities, and the document says the key reasons are: the use of plastic bags to line food-waste caddies (as instructed by the local authority), unclear guidance to householders, over-packaged food products, and people putting the wrong stuff in bins labelled ‘biodegradeable only’ waste.
The paper also outlines measures that can be taken in the food waste recycling chain to address plastic contamination.
You can read the paper here.
