Compostable/Biodegradable Bags Island Waste Management Corporation s Experience

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1 Compostable/Biodegradable Bags Island Waste Management Corporation s Experience 4 th Canadian Waste Resource Symposium April 13th 16 th, 2008 Westin Nova Scotia Hotel Halifax, NS Presented by: Heather Myers Disposal Manager, Island Waste Management Corporation Prince Edward Island

2 PEI s Waste Watch Program Pilot Project in East Prince in early 1990 s (100 households & a few businesses) Expanded to all of East Prince in 1994 (11,000 households & 1000 businesses) Expanded Island-wide in 2002 Residents (65,000) Businesses (10,000) Mandatory Program (for residents and businesses) Source separation Compost - Green Cart (240 litres & 140 litres) Waste - Black Cart (240 litres & 140 litres) Recyclables - Blue Bag 1 2

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4 Compost Facilities East Prince Waste Management Facility (EPWMF) open windrow composting 10,000 tonnes per year capacity composted source separated organics from residents and businesses at this facility from 1994 to 2002 July 2002, source separated organics from residents and businesses diverted to the Central Compost Facility EPWMF continues to compost sewage sludge and fat/batter crumbs from the French Fry processors Central Compost Facility Enclosed composting; containerized composting system; aerated static piles for curing and enclosed storage 30,000 tonnes per year capacity Composts the source separated organics from residents and businesses on PEI

5 Organics Three different scenarios for organics: Organics in the cart Excess organics (cart full) Spring/fall cleanup

6 Organics in the Cart Educate residents and businesses to: Place organics in the cart loose Place food waste in boxboard or wrap in newspaper Use paper bags

7 Excess Organics When the cart is full residents may place up to two containers of organics curbside with their cart Educate residents to: Use rigid containers Use paper bags

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10 Spring/Fall Cleanup Residents have one week in the spring and fall to place leaves/branches curbside for collection (collected once during the week) Educate residents to: - fill their cart - use rigid containers - use paper bags - may use plastic bags which are collected separately (many issues with this)

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15 Biodegradable/Compostable Bags IWMC does not promote the use of these bags, however they are accepted in the organics stream From 1994 to 2004 all types of biodegradable/compostable bags were permitted in the compost stream for use in the carts, excess compost or spring/fall cleanup (i.e. oxobiodegradables or ASTM D bags) If the bag was marked as compostable, biodegradable or degradable it was accepted

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17 Issues With the Biodegradable/Compostable Bags EPWMF Sometimes difficult for the contracted haulers to identify curbside if the bag was marked as compostable, biodegradable or degradable Also difficult for the inspector and processing staff to differentiate between these bags and plastic bags Behave like plastic Wrap around/caught in the shredder conveyor/knives, the turner (Double T, Wildcat, SCAT) and the Trommel screener

18 Issues - continued Central Compost Facility Same issues as EPWMF plus More equipment for the bags to get wrapped around/caught in i.e. pre-processing equipment conveyors, belts, bearings Pre-processing line pickers find it difficult to differentiate between these bags and plastic bags May cause air flow barriers in the containers and aerated static piles The compost product may be marketed after six months but may still contain visible pieces of the bags Knots tied in the bags take even longer to completely degrade

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22 The Issue Do we continue to accept the Compostable/Biodegradable Bags? IWMC felt that it is important to give the residents and businesses options for organics handling to achieve high participation rates It was clear that many residents and businesses wished to use these bags - convenient - greatly reduced the yuck factor

23 In 2005 IWMC made the decision to only accept compostable bags that met the ASTM D6400 standard and were certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute or equivalent body as compostable based on ASTM specification or international equivalents

24 This decision was based mainly on the long periods it took the oxo-biodegradable bags to completely degrade Since the use of composable/biodegradable bags is not promoted by IWMC, we did not wish to educate the general public on which bags are acceptable

25 Therefore, we educated the wholesalers and retail stores as to which bags are acceptable for use on PEI versus the general public (letters sent and phone calls) Goal: Only acceptable bags available to purchase by residents and businesses Hurdles with this approach: - Confusion amongst the retailers/wholesalers as to which bags are acceptable - Needed to allow retailers/wholesalers time to deplete stock of unacceptable bags

26 - Many unhappy residents and businesses due to the ASTM D6400 certified bags being more expensive than the oxo-biodegradable bags - Residents/businesses put pressure on the retailers/wholesalers to bring back the less costly bags many calls to IWMC - It took a couple of years to get the unacceptable bags off the shelves may even find a few remaining today

27 Conclusion There are more and more products coming into the marketplace that are compostable / biodegradable (or making these claims) Chain stores using unacceptable products for their carry out bags (i.e. Bulk Barn use an oxobiodegradable bag) Very difficult to keep the unacceptable bags/products out of the marketplace puts pressure on for all or nothing approach

28 Heather Myers Disposal Manager 110 Watts Avenue Charlottetown, PEI Phone: (902) Website: