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[GreenYes] Re: Dispoz-o?? Is it compostable? Is it biodegradable? What is it?


Title: [GreenYes] Re: Dispoz-o?? Is it compostable? Is it biodegradable? What is it?

The public mistakenly seems to think that it is a good thing when
materials biodegrade in landfills. Of course, as Pete points out, it
is the material that does biodegrade in landfills which causes
significant problems.  Not only is there the methane problem, but the
biodegradation process produces organic acids as intermediates, and
these acids can leach heavy metals out of the other waste in the
landfill and thus produce a more-toxic  leachate.  Dispoz-o proudly
proclaims that their "environware" will degrade in as little as 9
months in a landfill, breaking down completely into methane, carbon
dioxide, and water.  Of course, most landfills do not have their gas
collection system operable in the first 9 months after waste is
deposited in a landfill, because they have to finish filling the
landfill section  and covering it before gas collection can be
effective.  So this is the worst possible outcome from an
environmental standpoint - a significant amount of their product is
converted into methane (one of the worst greenhouse gasses) and
released to the atmosphere, plus in the process it will leach out
heavy metals producing a more toxic leachate. "Environware" indeed.

Peter Spendelow
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

On Jul 30, 2:53 pm, "Blair Pollock" <bpoll...@no.address> wrote:
> Does anyone know about the claims this company is making for its product
> 'environware'? I am not at all sure it's a truly compostable (as opposed
> to 'biodegradable'?)  product and hope someone can provide some insight
> here? The dining services at UNC Chapel Hill just selected them as their
> vendor for 'disposables'. Emphasis below is not mine.
>
> Blair Pollock
> Solid Waste Planner
> Orange County Solid Waste Management Department
> P.O. Box 17177
> Chapel Hill, NC 27516-7177
> (919) 968-2788 or direct: (919) 968-2800 x161
> (919) 932-2900 fax
>
> Recycle on vacation this summer in North Carolina: find out how wherever
> you're headed: (800) 763-0136 or
>
> http://www.p2pays.org/localgov/PAYT/ncwaste.asp
> <http://www.p2pays.org/localgov/PAYT/ncwaste.asp>
>
> http://www.dispozo.com/enviroware.html 
>
> enviroware(tm) products are formulated to interact with micro-organisms
> that are present in standard landfills, composting landfills and in our
> natural environment. These micro-organisms attack the molecular
> structure of the plastic and metabolize those structures, breaking it
> down into organic compounds. enviroware(tm) products do not contain any
> dyes or pigments that could be harmful to the environment. In addition,
> enviroware(tm) plates, trays, bowls and hinged containers are the only
> plastic resin based products in the world that are both 100%
> biodegradable and are manufactured in an environmentally friendly manner
> that does not use hydrocarbons in the manufacturing process.http://www.dispozo.com/
>
> Breakthrough in Biodegradable Plastic
>
> Dispoz-o Products, Inc., one of the largest domestic manufacturers of
> disposable products for the food service industry, has developed a
> revolutionary line of 100% biodegradable plastic cutlery, straws,
> stirrers, plates, trays, hinged containers and bowls.  
>
> enviroware(tm) is certified by an independent testing agency as 100%
> biodegradable. In addition, enviroware(tm) is FDA approved and meets the
> strictest standards of the Food Grade HACCP certification from AIB.
>
> enviroware(tm) products are formulated to interact with micro-organisms
> that are present in standard landfills, composting landfills and in our
> natural environment. These micro-organisms attack the molecular
> structure of the plastic and metabolize those structures, breaking it
> down into organic compounds. enviroware(tm) products do not contain any
> dyes or pigments that could be harmful to the environment. In addition,
> enviroware(tm) plates, trays, bowls and hinged containers are the only
> plastic resin based products in the world that are both 100%
> biodegradable and are manufactured in an environmentally friendly manner
> that does not use hydrocarbons in the manufacturing process.
>
> "There have been a lot of products introduced into the market claiming
> to be biodegradable when in fact these products are not biodegradable
> but only compostable", states Joseph Lancia, President & CEO of Dispoz-o
> Products. "The major difference between our enviroware(tm) products and
> these compostable products is that the compostable products have to be
> sorted, segregated and taken to large industrial composting landfills in
> order for them to degrade. This takes additional labor and time, and
> there are very few industrial composting landfills available in the US.
> Therefore, most of these compostable products end up in standard
> landfills where they do not degrade. These compostable products are
> typically very expensive, have an inferior quality and appearance, and
> deteriorate when exposed to heat. So in the end, the consumer has paid a
> premium for a product that is inferior and is not truly biodegradable.
> Our enviroware(tm) line of products are cost effective, maintain the
> same properties and characteristics of our standard plastic products,
> require no special handling, are recyclable and 100% certified
> biodegradable. This is truly a revolutionary breakthrough."
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