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composting new biodegradable bags

tobitttobitt Posts: 8
in Fruit & veg

With the introduction of biodegradable bags (suitable for home composting) for fruit and veg in the supper markets does anyone have answers to the following

1. How long do they take to break down

2. Do they add anything positive to the compost

3. Is there a maximum number of bags per volume (1 cubic meter) that can be added in a year.

My veggie patch is not large so I am not self sufficient and where I live we do not have food waste boxes. So if I don't put these bags on my compost they will have to go to landfill rather than damage my composting.

Any thoughts out there.

Brenda

Posts

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114

    Yes, send them to landfill.  The biodegradable bit is a bit disingenuous; it salves the feelings of the supermarket who think they are doing a Good Thing. 

    The bags biodegrade efficiently in anaerobic conditions over time.  That is they biodegrade in landfill.  My Council who take compost making seriously ask us not to put biodegradable bags in the food waste.  Get yourself paper bags or use newspaper to wrap the waste. But please if you have a food waste collection do not put food waste into landfill.

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    The council issue us with bio degradable bags for food waste which go into the garden bin. does not seem to be the same policy all over.

    Maybe a year ago I left a bag filled with supermarket plastic carrier bags in the loft. When I came across it this year the plastic bags just crumbled on touch Into confetti. So. These were presumably bio degradable as well. 

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    The super markets have a bin outside or in the foyer where you can put the bags in for them to recycle. My SM Delivery takes them back and any other plastic bags I may have,

    my GH bubble wrap disintegrated this year, just crumbled away, tiny bit of plastic everywhere.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • tobitttobitt Posts: 8

    Thank you very much everyone.

    The bags I am asking about are the ones on the fruit and veg isle. They have a rubbery feel and I think are similar to those you can buy for the food caddy recycle bins.

    As you have to have a different bag for each product they do mount up. Maybe I will just reuse them each week until the break or the shop objects.

    Thank you once again

    Brenda

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