48 min listen
Earth911 Podcast: World Centric's Resource Management Team on Compostable Packaging Progress
Earth911 Podcast: World Centric's Resource Management Team on Compostable Packaging Progress
ratings:
Length:
39 minutes
Released:
May 19, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
A few states are pioneering the rise of compostable packaging and building a composting infrastructure. World Centric's Resource Recovery Managers Erin Levine and Elly Ventura share the lessons the compostable packaging leader is learning as California, Colorado, and other states introduce composting and extended producer responsibility programs for fiber and plastic packaging. Making packaging sustainable — whether it can be recycled conveniently or composted to return the material to nature without pollutants — is essential to reducing the 292 million tons of solid waste created annually in the U.S. as of 2018. Only 32% of that waste was recycled or composted. World Centric has stopped using PFAS, the controversial "forever chemicals" that make compost that includes food service items unusable in agriculture. The company is experimenting with new bio-based compostable plastics for use in cups and as liners in fiber bowls and takeout packaging.Composting progress is a patchwork -- while there are about 4,000 composting sites in the U.S., only about 10% of those programs offer industrial composting of packaging. California continues to expand its composting capacity after passing S.B. 1383, which calls for curbside pickup of food waste and compostable packaging across the state. On the other hand, Colorado recently proposed limiting composting to food waste — compostable packaging might not be processed in the state. Packaging makers can help by designing products for recyclability and compostability and labeling products to help customers find responsible ways to dispose of them. Erin and Elly explain that standardizing labeling, especially by clearly indicating what materials require the higher temperatures achieved in industrial composting, will help consumers make better decisions when shopping. You can learn more about World Centric at https://www.worldcentric.com/
Released:
May 19, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
Earth911 Podcast, August 27, 2018: Sustainability In Your Ear: Join Evelyn Fielding Lopez and the Earth911 team to talk recycling, sustainable choices, and answers to your Earthling questions. This week: Earthlings shared how much time they spend each week on recycling; Trey Granger explains clothing recycling,... by Earth911.com's Sustainability In Your Ear