What does compostable mean on packaging?

Home versus commercial composting

Compostable items fall into two broad groups. Some are meant for industrial or commercial composting facilities, which run at controlled conditions, and others are meant for a backyard bin. Many compostable cups, plates and bags are designed for the first group, so they may not break down in a typical home pile.

That is why a careful label says where the item can be composted, for example in a commercial facility. If a package says only compostable with no detail, the answer to where it can go is unclear, and you will need to look further.

What the FTC Green Guides say

The FTC Green Guides (16 CFR Part 260) are federal guidance on environmental marketing claims. For compostable claims, they generally expect that a marketer can show the item will break down into usable compost in a safe and timely way in the way it is typically disposed of. If composting facilities are not available to a substantial majority of consumers where the item is sold, the Guides call for a qualification, such as a note that facilities may not exist in your area.

The Guides are guidance, not a list of approved products, but they are a useful yardstick for judging a claim on a package.

What to check before you buy

• Whether the label says home compostable, commercial compostable, or only compostable.
• A named third-party certification, which gives you something you can look up.
• Whether your local trash or composting service accepts compostable packaging, since many do not.
• Whether the item is made of a mix of materials, such as a paper cup with a lining.

If you cannot compost it locally

A compostable item that ends up in an ordinary landfill may not break down the way the label suggests, so check your local options before relying on the claim. Your city or county waste service, or a nearby composting program, can tell you what it takes. For product ideas, see our guides to compostable plates and cups and compostable coffee pods, and our related answer on biodegradable labels.

Sources

• FTC Green Guides (16 CFR Part 260)
• Local municipal waste and composting programs