Single-use plastic products are a significant source of litter throughout Canada, but according to a recent investigation by the show “Marketplace,” compostable alternatives may not be the ultimate solution they claim to be. While many levels of government are enacting bans on various single-use plastic items, the popularity of compostable products is on the rise. However, “Marketplace” discovered that these alternatives may not be as environmentally beneficial as their eco-friendly packaging implies.
In a simulated experiment conducted by “Marketplace,” compostable items were buried in the ground, placed in a backyard composter, and submerged in a lake to observe their breakdown. After 14 weeks, only three out of 30 products had completely decomposed. Karen Wirsig from the advocacy group Environmental Defence criticized these products as “single-use garbage,” highlighting how companies are simply shifting the disposal method of convenient single-use packaging without addressing the core issue.
The experiment revealed that most compostable items, including coffee lids, wheat straws, plastic bags, spoons, birch forks, and bamboo plates, remained largely intact and recognizable. Wirsig emphasized the potential harm these undecomposed items could pose to wildlife as they break down into smaller fragments and enter the food chain.
Despite the green claims on compostable products such as “soon becomes soil” and “let’s save the world together,” the fine print often specifies that these items are only compostable under specific commercial conditions, including particular heat levels, microbes, and aeration. This poses a challenge for municipal waste systems to distinguish between compostable plastics and traditional plastics, leading to complications in waste management processes.
In major Canadian cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, compostable plastics that cannot be processed in municipal systems are diverted to landfills, negating the intended environmental benefits. The lack of standardized composting regulations across municipalities further complicates the situation for both manufacturers and consumers, making it difficult to determine proper disposal methods.
Calls for more standardization in composting regulations have been made by experts like Cal Lakhan and Matt Keliher, who emphasize the need for a streamlined approach to compostable product labeling and disposal. The existing patchwork of rules creates confusion for consumers and challenges for manufacturers to ensure consistent practices.
Manufacturers and retailers, including Walmart, Loblaw, Ziploc, and Dollarama, maintain that their products meet independent composting standards and are designed to break down in industrial compostable facilities. However, the issue of accessibility to these facilities for many Canadians remains unaddressed.
Karen Wirsig advocates for a shift towards reusable items rather than replacing single-use products with alternative single-use options. She emphasizes the importance of prioritizing reusables and holding companies accountable for promoting sustainable practices, suggesting that reusables should be as convenient as disposable items.