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To close the loop means to leave no waste - everything is shared, repaired, reused, composted or recycled. Like a circular economy, it's the notion that what came from the earth can go back to the earth. Commercial composting and compostable products, like foodservice packaging, are valuable contributors to that system and are critical to achieving a more sustainable future.

So, what challenges are holding us back from completely closing the loop? It's a lack of facilities, a lack of acceptance, and a difficulty in distinguishing between traditional plastics and compostables.

Challenge: lack of access to facilities

One of the greatest challenges with commercial composting in the U.S. is the lack of widespread facilities and acceptance of all compostables by those facilities that do exist. Commercial composting isn’t perfect, but luckily it has the potential to be so much better. One promising bill recently passed on by the Senate, the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act, would make services more accessible to rural and disadvantaged communicates.
 

One Solution: small-scale community composters 
meet Laney & Lu and Mr. Fox Composting


Across North America, many restaurants are discovering small-scale community composters that are stepping up to help local residents and foodservice operators reduce their waste.

In Exeter, New Hampshire, local cafe Laney & Lu is as close to zero-waste as they come - all of their packaging is compostable and gets picked up by Mr. Fox Composting, a local community hauler.


Challenge: lack of acceptance by facilities
Waste management is big business. Sadly, turning the largest profit often comes before closing the loop, and organic compost yields a higher profit than inorganic compost.

PLA is made from plant sugars (we use corn) which are turned into lactic acid through fermentation, then converted into a polymer. However, organic composters will not accept PLA products because the U.S. Department of Agriculture's NOP program restricts organic compost from containing bioplastic. Yet, they will allow for organic composters to accept food with artificial ingredients -- like corn syrup, synthetic sugars, preservatives, GMO's, etc.

 
Good News: compostables are still more sustainable
Even when they aren't composted, compostable products are far more sustainable than PET plastic or foam. Additionally, drilling oil from the earth for PET plastic threatens wildlife and Indigenous lands, contaminates soil and groundwater, pollutes the air, and is just toxic.
Challenge: distinguishing plastics and compostables
photo from Farmacy 
You've probably witnessed this scene: someone finishes lunch and walks up to the waste bins, but freezes mid-toss looking totally confused. What goes where? It can be hard for consumers to distinguish between PET plastics and bioplastics. We do have some free downloadable signage here that you may find helpful. At a commercial composting facility, it can also be hard for employees to understand how to sort items.
 
Solutions: labeling and trusted brands
As a consumer or a composter, the best thing you can do to help is educate yourself. Start by knowing the difference between compostable and biodegradable -- they do not mean the same thing.

Then, look for products with an ASTM certification. This means that the products have been tested to be certified compostable in a commercial facility, and will break down with no toxic residue into carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass at a rate consistent with paper.

Lastly, purchase from a trusted brand. World Centric only puts compostable products to market once they have passed the ASTM compost tests. We also focus on labeling to lessen confusion. For example, all of our PLA cups and bowls are printed with a green stripe which helps, and our trademarked teardrop cutout in the handles of our utensils also helps composters lessen confusion on the sorting line. 




Let's Close The Loop

Legislation that requires operators to switch to sustainable packaging can help drive cities towards this sustainable, closed loop future, faster. New foodware regulations also help to amplify the need for more composting operations as part of a city's waste management contract. 

Read more about state and local composting regulations in your area, watch our latest webinar, then send a letter to your local decision makers and tell them that you want to see more landfill diversion and composting in your city. 
Advocacy Letter Template
More Resources
to help you close all the loops

As World Centric’s Resource Recovery Manager, Erin Levine is responsible for promoting the proper disposal of our products through education and outreach. She is a Certified Composting Professional through the US Composting Council and a Certified Compost Programs Manager through the Solid Waste Authority of North America.

As a customer, she is available to be a resource to help you and your business find viable end-of-life solutions for your compostable foodservice ware. 

You can contact Erin at zerowaste@worldcentric.com.


Plus, check out these guides that can help you close the loop in your home, restaurant, or on campus:

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