biodegradable bags

Tinks · Post: # 15344Post **Tinks** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 5:27 pm

Hi, i was having a think about these this morning as I always try to use biodegradable bags and am now using sandwich bags that degrade in about a year, well i was wondering whether it is better to throw them away (when they cant be used anymore) so they 'degrade' (is that actually a word?) or whether to put them in the recycling where energy and money is spent on recycling them when they are just going to disintegrate anyway?
if that make any sense?

tinks

ina · Post: # 15352Post **ina** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 6:51 pm

What are they actually made of?

Tinks · Post: # 15373Post **Tinks** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:22 pm

I'm not sure Ina, there is the symbol d2w on the packaging, not sure if that means anything, they say that they break down into water, carbon dioxide and a very small amount of biomass.
tinks

Mandyz · Post: # 15385Post **Mandyz** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:30 am

What is the company's measure of it being biodegradable? Does it require optimal conditions - like a compost heap?
Because from what I recall, massive garbage heaps do not foster biodegradation, at least, not in a timely manner.

ina · Post: # 15483Post **ina** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 8:34 pm

They sound as if they'd be best off on a compost heap - probably not much sense in recycling them. If you've used them for sandwiches they might not be terribly clean, either, so would not be ideal in the recycling process. I chuck quite a lot of paper and cardboard on the compost, the worms seem to love it.