PACK POINTS
The breakdown on biodegradables
They may do more harm than good in landfills.
NC State research shows that so-called biodegradable products are likely doing more harm than good in landfills because they are releasing a powerful greenhouse gas as they break down.
“Biodegradable materials, such as disposable cups and utensils, are broken down in landfills by microorganisms that then produce methane,” said Dr. Morton Barlaz, co-author of a paper, along with PhD student James Lewis, describing the research. “Methane can be a valuable energy source when captured, but it is a potent greenhouse gas when released into the atmosphere.”
And the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that only about 35 percent of municipal solid waste goes to landfills that capture methane for energy use. EPA estimates that another 34 percent of landfills capture methane and burn it off on-site, while 31 percent allow the methane to escape.
“In other words, biodegradable products are not necessarily more environmentally friendly when disposed in landfills,” said Barlaz, professor and head of NC State’s Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering.
This problem may be exacerbated by the rate at which these man-made biodegradable materials break down. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines call for products marked as “biodegradable” to decompose within “a reasonably short period of time” after disposal. But such rapid degradation may actually be environmentally harmful because federal regulations do not require landfills that collect methane to install gas collection systems for at least two years after the waste is buried. If materials break down and release methane quickly, much of that methane will likely be emitted before the collection technology is installed. This means less potential fuel for energy use and more greenhouse gas emissions.
As a result, the researchers found that a slower rate of biodegradation is actually more environmentally friendly because
the bulk of the methane production will occur after the methane collection system is in place. Some specific biodegradable products such as bags that hold yard waste and are always sent to composting or anaerobic digestion facilities were not included in the study. 