This SPC project, begun in early 2010, has wrapped up following the release of the report summarizing the survey results. The report is now available for
download.
"Compostable Packaging: The Reality on the Ground" reveals survey results from 40 facilities that accept food waste, which were identified to provide a range of size, composting method and geographic location of facilities. Survey questions covered topics such as types of food waste accepted, composting methods utilized, how packaging is handled and what problems facilities have encountered in accepting packaging.
The survey was motivated by the packaging industry’s confusion as to how composting facilities treat foodservice packaging, because some facilities reject packaging, citing it as a contaminant to their composting process and finished product. Due to the growing number of individual facility, regional and state compostability standards, packaging designers and engineers have been unsure of how to approach compostable packaging.
The report was authored by Rhodes Yepsen, an Organics Recycling Consultant, with SPC staff.
Key findings include:
- 90% of facilities surveyed actively accept compostable packaging.
- 67.5% require compostable packaging to have some type of standard or certification before allowing it in the front gate.
- 82.5% want a more universally recognizable label of compostability.