Compostable Bags. What are they?

According to the ASTM International Standards, compostable plastic is plastic which is “capable of undergoing biological decomposition in a compost site as part of an available program, such that the plastic is not visually distinguishable and breaks down to carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass, at a rate consistent with known compostable materials (e.g. cellulose). and leaves no toxic residue.”

Compostable plastic bags are distinct from regular plastic bags because they are usually clear or a translucent shade of green or white. Today’s compostable plastics are designed to breakdown under commercially managed composting conditions.  Most are not designed to breakdown under home composting conditions.

Some stores that carry compostable bags include;